YEREVAN. – The closure of companies operating in the tourism sector is temporary, Armenia’s minister of economy Tigran Khachatryan said on Friday.

"Naturally, in the current situation, there are businesses [in Armenia] that have decided to cease their activities. For example, the amount of sales of travel agencies has decreased by 90% compared to last year," he said.

According to the minister, at the same time, however, the government considers the closure of these businesses conditional.

Khachatryan assured that these companies will resume their activities when the tourist flow is restored. "We expect the [coronavirus-related] restrictions to be eased in the near future. I hope we will receive tourists again this fall. I have almost no doubt that most of the closed companies will return to their activities," the minister said, but noting that this recovery will be gradual.