The Wings of Tatev Aerial Tramway celebrates the 15th anniversary of its official opening and, on the eve of this milestone, has once again been nominated for the prestigious World Travel Awards 2025 in the category of “World’s Leading Cable Car Ride.”
Over the past 15 years, Wings of Tatev has become one of the most iconic symbols of Armenian tourism. Initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and listed in the Guinness World Records as the world’s longest (5,752 m) reversible aerial tramway, the project has played a key role not only in the development of Syunik Province but also in enhancing Armenia’s overall attractiveness as a tourism destination. It has already brought the country the World Travel Award three times.
Ruben Vardanyan once described the project’s mission as follows:
“The goal of all our projects is to put Armenia on the world map and make it appealing to locals, members of the Diaspora, and international visitors alike. The hardest part is convincing people that initiatives like this can act as catalysts and truly change the situation in the country.”
Fifteen years later, this vision has clearly become reality. The project has significantly raised Armenia’s visibility and has served as a powerful driver of development.
Since its launch, Wings of Tatev has transported around 1.5 million passengers. Today, one in five tourists visiting Armenia travels to Syunik, and the region’s tourist flow has increased 17-fold. Private sector investment has grown 11 times, and 40 new B&B guesthouses have opened in the Tatev and Goris area, strengthening the region’s hospitality infrastructure.
Beyond tourism, the tramway has turned Tatev into a vibrant venue for cultural events such as BASE Jump and Music Fest, the traditional “Trndez” celebration, the Sheep Shearing Festival, the immersive “In the Mountains” festival, and events dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Komitas, among others. Wings of Tatev has not only connected travelers with one of Armenia’s most scenic landscapes but has also opened the way to the medieval Tatev Monastery — breathing new life into the region and transforming it into a hub for tourism, cultural initiatives, and local business.
This anniversary coincides with the new nomination for the World Travel Awards 2025 in the “World’s Leading Cable Car Ride” category. Wings of Tatev has already won this award in 2021, 2023, and 2024. This year, it is competing with cable cars from Bolivia, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, and South Africa.
Supporters from Armenia and abroad can help Wings of Tatev win again by following these simple steps to vote:
- Go to the [voting page]
- Register using your email address
- Confirm the email sent to your inbox
- Click “Vote Now”
- Select the World section
- Find #64 — World’s Leading Cable Car Ride 2025 and vote for Wings of Tatev, Armenia.
Voting is open until October 26, 2025.
The tramway was built as part of the Tatev Revival program initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, bringing together the efforts of thousands of philanthropists, builders, and volunteers for the tourism and socio-economic development of Syunik. All proceeds from the project go toward the restoration of Tatev Monastery and the development of the Tatev community.
The World Travel Awards is a prestigious international award recognizing outstanding achievements in the global tourism, travel, and hospitality industries each year.
