“What innovative projects have you developed for tourism? Can we show tourists anything new besides churches in Armenia? What are we going to show tourists besides churches,” My Step deputy Hovhannes Hovhannisyan asked Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan during the 2020 state budget plan discussion in parliament. According to Hovhannisyan, there is a lack of information about tourist attractions and sufficient signs on the road. The issue of having a lack of bathrooms is also important.
The minister responded that the issue of creating necessary infrastructure is important for the ministry. “Tourists frequently speak about the poor conditions of the roads. The majority of investments that will be made soon will be directed towards solving that problem. And road signs also are tied to that.” Regarding innovative projects, Tigran Khachatryan said that gastro-tourism and winemaking have promoted an increase in tourists, but private individuals are the ones who organize that.
According to the minister, the ministry will be working with a flexible agenda and it will be prepared to discuss any innovative ideas. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan said that he has some innovated ideas. He said that, for example, a fantasy city based off of Aladdin is being built in the United Arab Emirates, but Armenia cannot receive any profit from real traditions.
Luiza Sukiasyan
