A months-long peaceful protest movement in Armenia has brought new hope and booming business to its capital, Yerevan, BBC Travel reporter Lindsey Galloway wrote in an article. 

“Though a small country of just three million people, Armenia made global waves last spring with its Velvet Revolution,” she noted, in particular “As the city embarks on its 2,800th year—making it older than Rome—residents are eager to reflect on the city’s rapid changes and promising future.

As per Galloway, many see the Armenian “culture as inclusive – here, another person joining a group or community is perceived as a positive – and the Armenian nimbleness with various languages can help amplify this feeling of belonging among newcomers.

“However, even with their centuries of difficult history and respect for tradition, many Yerevan residents remain open-minded to new ideas and ways of thinking.”