Armenia is the small country in Transcaucasia abounding with cultural monuments and natural sights. She is potentially very attractive in terms of tourism. For a number of reasons, first of all, because of a difficult economic situation and the intense relations with some neighboring states, visits Armenia much less foreign guests, than it was possible to expect. Positive dynamics nevertheless in recent years was outlined therefore the prospects of development of tourism, certainly, are.
Instruction
1. The main attractions of Armenia by right call Armenia "the museum under the open sky". In its territory there is a set of monuments of a pre-Christian era, such as Garni's temple, ruins of the ancient capitals of Armenia – Artashat, Armavir and also the cities of the ancient state of Urartu – Erebuni, Teyshebaini. First of all, it is necessary to distinguish Echmiadzin Cathedral, the monastery Chorus Virap in the neighborhood of which the most beautiful view of Mount Ararat, sacred for Armenians, and also Geghard Monasteries, Noravank, Sevanavank, etc. opens from monuments of the Christian period of history.
2. Armenia is rich with also natural sights. From them primary attention deserve: the lake Sevan, Dzhermuksky falls, volcanic formations in valleys of the Hrazdan Rivers, the Azat, the Arpa, Gegamsky and Vardenissky massif.
3. The latest data on tourism in Armenia and its prospects Since 2009 the number of tourists from the CIS countries was considerably reduced, but at the same time grew up purely foreign guests from other states, first of all, of the neighboring Iran and Georgia. Besides, the flow of tourists from such far-away countries as the USA and Canada (among them quite often there are representatives of the Armenian diasporas) and also from Japan increased. By the way, according to the estimates of the Armenian officials responsible for tourism development, Japanese guests – the most favorable in financial sense, they spend on vacation most.
4. If in 2009 Armenia about 575000 tourists, then in 2011 already visited about 760000. And in the following, 2012, the number of foreign guests was already about 850000. Positive dynamics continues till present. For its fixing new hotels, including luxury, in the capital of the country Yerevan and also in other resort centers, for example the Tsakhnadzor and Dzhermuk are under construction.
5. Among the factors having negative effect on image of Armenia in the development plan for tourism, foreign guests and also many residents of the country call the high prices of a number of positions (cost of living, services of guides and taxi drivers), requisitions of traffic police (especially in relation to the Iranian tourists moving on cars). Also guests complain about the insufficient level of service and about weak knowledge of English many workers of the tourist sphere. However Armenians try to eliminate defects and to diversify rest of tourists.