Armenia wants to develop agro-tourism. On November 27, Yerevan hosts the conclusive conference of the agro-tourism quality certification system program, CerTour, which was attended by representatives of 6 member countries. 90% of the project, as assured by CerTour Project Coordinator George Stampoulis in an interview with us, was financed by the European Union. Under this project, a system of rural tourism standards has been introduced.
To the question of Aravot.am about the resources of Armenia in agro-tourism, Stampoulis said that he is not familiar. Whether the mining industry throughout Armenia does not impede the agro-tourism, as this branch of industry, as mentioned by the experts, pollutes the environment, particularly the villages and rural food, Chairwoman of Ecotourism Association, Zhanna Galyan, said, “If we are able to develop the tourism that it would bring profit to the country and the population that the population and the people with large amount of money would agree to further develop the tourism than the mining industry, it would be good, but I do not know how successful we can be.” Ms. Galyan said that if there was no rural tourism in Armenia some 10 years ago, now it has started to develop in our country.
In an interview with Aravot.am, “Areni” wine festival organizer, Nune Manukyan, told the festivals also contribute to the development of rural tourism as well as to the development of BB in villages and the guesthouses. “For example, during the Areni fest, in the communities of Chiva, Rind, Areni and Yeghegnadzor, the villagers were actively involved, the guesthouses are developing here. This year, there were houses that were offering interesting food with recreation zones. Each marz should develop rural tourism with its own cuisine and traditions, this is of the interest by foreigners. Agro-tourism is also an attempt to raise rural life by supporting to it.”
In Nune Manukyan’s words, rural people gradually realize what should be done. Our ID card is the simple Armenian food and their beautiful servicing. “People are growing but they have one complex, they are embarrassed of selling, Armenians are accustomed to show hospitality. When we say that we should take money for your hospitality, they are embarrassed. They must learn to sell his good as a product.” In an interview with Aravot.am, Chairman of Armenian Association of Hotel Development, Ofelia Petrosyan, assured that the foreigners are very much interested in the Armenian traditions, cuisine and rural life, how they plough the land, make unleavened bread and cheese. “Barbeque is prepared in many countries, but only we prepare it in the pit, the foreigners are very curious about it, they take part in the preparation of unleavened bread, sujukh and dishes and also take with them.”
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Ms. Petrosyan said that when they do a survey among the tourists, it turns out that often they are tired of visiting the churches, they prefer to get acquainted with the traditions and communicate with people. “For example, they could not even imagined that our bedding can be made of wool, they are interested in wool processing.” Ms. Petrosyan said that it would be good for the tour operators who organize visits to the regions would organizer the tourists dinner at the guesthouses rather than in the restaurants where there is no such warm atmosphere, at the guesthouse the tourist would not feel that he/she is at the hotel or a restaurant, but the impression will be that he/she is at his/her friend’s house .
More details in the video
In response to our question that now it is the khash season, and whether this is an interesting dish to foreigners, Ms. Petrosyan said that it is a heavy dish especially for the Europeans, now many Russians are coming, they more like barbecue, while the Europeans are fond of the traditional cuisine.
More details in the video.
Nelly BABAYAN
