On December 12, a meeting on issues related to the development of Armenian tourism wad held in Jermuk. The meeting was invited by the President Serzh Sargsyan

The meeting was attended by the Vice Prime Minister of Armenia, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development David Lokyan, Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Harutyunyan, Head of the State Committee on Urban Development Narek Sarksyan, Acting Head of the State Committee on Tourism Zarmine Zeitountsian, Head of the Tourism Development Department Mekhak Apresyan, Governor of Vayots Dzor marz Harutyun Sarksyan, Head of Jermuk community Vardan Hovhannissyan, Executive Director of Development Foundation of Armenia Karen Mkrtchian, Executive Director of Armenia’s Territorial Development Fund Ashot Kirakosyan.

Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan in his speech said, that Armenia's government, based on the potential for development of tourism industry and the necessity for launching them, outlined quite ambitious goals for its operation, that’s why it became necessary to strengthen and bring together the team, who develop and implement the policy of the tourism sector.

Presenting the scope of activities of two administration bodies of Ministry; the State Committee on Tourism and Development Foundation of Armenia, Suren Karayan noted that it is necessary to unify the potential of the State Committee on Tourism, Development Foundation of Armenia and other public and private sector stakeholders and consistently and purposefully address joint efforts to the development of our country's new tourism policy and implementation of development program.

-I am confident that we will succeed in creating a strong and effective system, highly qualified team of professionals, organize a consolidated, harmonious work and achiev significant results in the near future, -said the Minister, giving the floor to the Acting Head of the State Committee on Tourism Zarmine Zeitountsian. She presented the conceptual approaches to the development of tourism in Armenia for years 2017-2020 including statistics, issues of state policy and anticipated results, forthcoming events and main obstacles for the development of the area.

The Executive Director of Development Foundation of Armenia Karen Mkrtchian reported on the events envisaged by the Foundation in the area of tourism for years 2016-2017.

In the framework of the meeting agenda, the Vice Prime Minister of Armenia, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan, Executive Director of Armenia’s Territorial Development Fund Ashot Kirakosyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development David Lokyan, Governor of Vayots Dzor marz Harutyun Sarksyan delivered speeches.

In his speech the President underscored that despite some positive tendencies registered in the area of tourism, there still exists a great potential which still remains untapped.

“This is an interrelated chain of economic development, and every link of this chain should be strong to yield the final result. Responsibility lies with everyone. We need to understand that the area will develop only and only through our joint efforts,- said President Serzh Sargsyan.

The RA Minister of Economic Development and Investments was tasked:

a) After the discussions with the interested parties to summarize the works of the draft law of Armenia on Tourism and pertinent legal acts and present the drafts for discussions to the government of Armenia in the first three months of year 2017.

b) To draw the tourist map of Armenia in a short period of time and create the inventory of all monuments, natural reserves, and other areas which may hold tourism development potential.

c) to carry out concrete works on the formation of the administrative index of tourism as well as to create methods to carry out statistical records of the tourists visits and improvement of analytical capacities and present corresponding financial assessment to the government of Armenia.

d) Together with the Minister of Culture to discuss the timetable for the reconstruction of the historical and cultural monuments at the main tourist routes and archeological excavations and together with the uninterrupted works ensure maximal tourist flows.

e) Together with the mayor of Yerevan and Minister of Territorial Administration and Development to discuss issues related to the creation of a necessary infrastructure for the establishment on the territory of the Republic of modern tourist information centers united in one network and present to the government of Armenia corresponding financial assessment.