Aravot.am asked Vardan Srtashyan, the executive director of a restaurant-hotel complex in the historical center of Gyumri, whether there are tourists visiting Gyumri from abroad this year, or if inbound tourism is primarily developing.
“Mainly inbound tourism is developing. Previously, most tourists coming from abroad were from the Russian Federation. Given the current situation in Russia, with the ongoing war, people are preoccupied with their daily struggles and have transitioned from being tourists to becoming emigrants and refugees.
Many flights from Russia to Gyumri have been canceled. The Shirak Airport in Gyumri, which was once a vital structure supporting the city’s tourism, is now functioning very weakly. This is one of the reasons the flow of tourists to Gyumri is mainly from Yerevan.
If low-cost flights could be organized from our airport to various Russian cities and European countries, the situation would be completely different. For instance, flights to European cities are organized from Kutaisi Airport in Georgia at very low prices – 50, 60, 80 dollars.
Imagine the tourism opportunities a similar airport creates in Georgia. Why can’t we do the same in Gyumri?
Expecting individuals to develop tourism alone is impossible. I assure you that the supply in Gyumri has long surpassed the demand. Gyumri residents open many restaurants and hotels whenever they have the opportunity. There is significant progress in Gyumri’s service sector. Some people complain about rising prices, but the quality of service and the investment in these facilities are substantial. Therefore, it is the state’s responsibility to bridge the gap and boost demand in response to the available supply,” said Vardan Srtashyan.
It should be noted that to promote tourism, Srtashyan proposes that the government relocate important cultural, sports, and educational events to Gyumri, including during the winter months, which is a difficult period for restaurant and hotel owners.
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Additionally, Vardan Srtashyan suggests transferring some of the profit tax revenue from the state budget to the municipal budget. In this case, he believes that local government bodies would be more interested in contributing to the development of tourism through various initiatives.
Nune Arevshatian
