YEREVAN. – It is necessary to implement a comprehensive program to double the flow of tourists to Armenia by 2024. Mekhak Apresyan, President of the Armenian Tourism Federation, told this to a press conference on Friday.

And for that, according to him, it is necessary to carry out institutional reforms, improve the competitive environment, pursue an aggressive state marketing policy, also using the potential of the Armenian diaspora. For these objectives, as per Apresyan, it is desirable to allocate at least 1 percent per annum of the amount that Armenia’s tourism sector pays annually in the form of taxes; that is, about $3 million.

Apresyan added that that in the case when tourism countries usually allocate an average of $6 from the budget for each tourist, in Armenia that amount is a maximum of 40 cents.

"It is important to do everything not to be on the list of countries undesirable for tourist visits, especially after the [recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war, the results of which should not change our approach to the development of this area. It is also important to present to the world with dignity the 'product' of our courageous struggle against Azerbaijan, Turkey, and the mercenaries [during this war]," the expert said.

And Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, former chairperson of the State Tourism Committee of Armenia, added that the country's positions in the international rankings have fallen slightly, although before the war Armenia was ranked even higher than Germany in terms of safety—not even mentioning Armenia’s neighbors, especially Azerbaijan and Georgia, of which Armenia is still ahead.

"Armenia is not the first country that lost a war; it's just that in such cases they usually pursue a serious marketing policy. (…). The state must show more serious approaches," Zeytuntsyan concluded.