Armenia's Economic Pulse

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

There were tourists who have cancelled their visit to Armenia because
of the April war

June 9 2016

To the question of Aravot.am about the number of tourists reduced
because of the April war, today, at the press conference organized at
the Club of Economic Journalists, the Head of the Union of Incoming
Tour Operators of Armenia, Karine Davoyan said that right after the
war there were tourists who had temporary cancelled their visit to
Armenia. However, Mrs. Davoyan believes that today, the existing
problems in the tourism industry to Armenia are not related to the
April war. The poor roads condition in Armenia, the lack of toilets,
high ticket prices for the buses are number one obstacles for the
development of tourism in our country, said Mrs. Davoyan. In her
words, the tour operators have raised these problems thousands of
times before the ministries of economy and transport and their
responsible persons, but the mentioned problems are not solved in any
way, “The roads are in terrible condition. We already feel
uncomfortable to talk about the toilets, we walk with the tourists for
hours and cannot provide with a toilet.”

Karine Davoyan also said that Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan and Georgia,
is represented to the world very little, “Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s
ads are always broadcast by CNN, while Armenia – is not. If we say
that tourism is the main direction in our country, we need to spend
money for it.” The Chairman of the Union, referring to high costs of
the tickets, said that it influences on the cost of the tour packages,
“Because of the ticket prices, the package may vary by 200 euros. Very
often it is explained that the plane is half empty in the directions
to and from, but when the plane it full, anyway, the ticket does not
get cheaper.”

Robert Minasyan, Rector of the Armenian Institute of Tourism,
attending the press conference said that the tourism is a highly
sensitive industry, and it quickly responds when there is a problem
with security, “The neighboring Iraq is in war, many people think that
Armenia is also in war.” According to Robert Minasyan, there are 7
billion people in the world, of which one billion is traveling.
According to him, the wishes and requirements of the tourists have
been changed, but we are not walking in tune with them, “We need to
introduce new packages, but there are no new packages. More tourists
travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia rather than to Armenia.”

Lusine BUDAGHYAN

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__en.aravot.am_2016_06_09_177567_&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=lkwFspBztORjCnd8w5i1paD0fCdFmskNeS4U_6iOChM&s=qSQzt-kUoHkk9pVyEGYA9vm5ty8mOQN1PrK-ru_6E7Q&e=

[armnuke]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

There were tourists who have cancelled their visit to Armenia because
of the April war

June 9 2016

To the question of Aravot.am about the number of tourists reduced
because of the April war, today, at the press conference organized at
the Club of Economic Journalists, the Head of the Union of Incoming
Tour Operators of Armenia, Karine Davoyan said that right after the
war there were tourists who had temporary cancelled their visit to
Armenia. However, Mrs. Davoyan believes that today, the existing
problems in the tourism industry to Armenia are not related to the
April war. The poor roads condition in Armenia, the lack of toilets,
high ticket prices for the buses are number one obstacles for the
development of tourism in our country, said Mrs. Davoyan. In her
words, the tour operators have raised these problems thousands of
times before the ministries of economy and transport and their
responsible persons, but the mentioned problems are not solved in any
way, “The roads are in terrible condition. We already feel
uncomfortable to talk about the toilets, we walk with the tourists for
hours and cannot provide with a toilet.”

Karine Davoyan also said that Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan and Georgia,
is represented to the world very little, “Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s
ads are always broadcast by CNN, while Armenia – is not. If we say
that tourism is the main direction in our country, we need to spend
money for it.” The Chairman of the Union, referring to high costs of
the tickets, said that it influences on the cost of the tour packages,
“Because of the ticket prices, the package may vary by 200 euros. Very
often it is explained that the plane is half empty in the directions
to and from, but when the plane it full, anyway, the ticket does not
get cheaper.”

Robert Minasyan, Rector of the Armenian Institute of Tourism,
attending the press conference said that the tourism is a highly
sensitive industry, and it quickly responds when there is a problem
with security, “The neighboring Iraq is in war, many people think that
Armenia is also in war.” According to Robert Minasyan, there are 7
billion people in the world, of which one billion is traveling.
According to him, the wishes and requirements of the tourists have
been changed, but we are not walking in tune with them, “We need to
introduce new packages, but there are no new packages. More tourists
travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia rather than to Armenia.”

Lusine BUDAGHYAN
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2...PrK-ru_6E7Q&e=

I was seeing flocks of tourists even during the 4-Day War. Right now the center of Yerevan is full of tourists.

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

I was seeing flocks of tourists even during the 4-Day War. Right now the center of Yerevan is full of tourists.

Yeh this is one of the best times to be there. The apricots should be ready now and not too hot yet. Fall is good to with grapes and other harvests and again cooler temps. I find the summers in Yerevan way too hot!

[armnuke]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

yea, cherries and apricots started, the heat waves did not start yet.

[armnuke]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Economy ministry expects five percent rise in the number of foreign tourists this year

YEREVAN, June 10. /ARKA/. The number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia is expected to grow by 5 per cent this year, according to Mekhak Apresyan, head of an economy ministry department overseeing tourism industry.

Speaking to a news conference today he said the number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia in the first quarter of this year grew by almost 9 percent to 252,000 people.

"We were registering an annual growth of about 10% for several years, with the exception of last year when their number declined by 1%, largely, due to the dramatic depreciation of the Russian ruble.

However, the flow of Russian tourists to Armenia is restoring. In the first quarter we recorded an increase of almost 10% if compared to the first quarter of 2015," Apresyan said, adding that the bulk of foreign tourists are from the EU countries, Georgia and Iran.

According to him, in the first quarter of 2016 the number of tourists from Iran soared by 40%. He added that despite the latest upsurge in violence in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, the number of tourists did not fall.

According to him, in addition to traditional, historical and cultural tourism, travel agencies are working to boost winter, extreme, gastronomy, wellness, festival and hiking tourisms.

In 2015 Armenia was visited by 1.192 million foreign tourists. -0-

http://arka.am/en/news/tourism/economy_ministry_expects_five_percent_rise_in_the_number_of_foreign_tourists_this_year/

[armnuke]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Armenian Government Fires Vice-Ministers To Save Money

The Armenian government has laid off three deputy ministers of agriculture as part of a major cost-cutting drive that was announced by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian last month.

Abrahamian’s office announced the dismissals of Grisha Baghiyan, Samvel Galstian and Garnik Petrosian on Thursday evening. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that nobody will be appointed in their place.

Agriculture Minister Sergo has had five deputies until now, more than most other cabinet members.

The layoffs came one month after Abrahamian said the government should streamline its expenditures, downsize many of its agencies, step up its declared fight against corruption and improve the domestic business environment. Armenia, he said, must become a “more efficient state” in order to successfully cope with “new challenges” emanating from the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The premier referred to the April 2-5 hostilities in Karabakh which heightened the risk of a full-scale Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

Later in May, the government decided to decommission almost 800 cars used by its senior officials and other public sector employees. But it has yet to determine the scale of the planned staff cuts. Nor is it clear how much money the government will save as a result of these measures.

Deputy Finance Minister Pavel Safarian admitted that the anticipated cost-saving will not be massive. “This is more of a moral issue,” Safarian said. He also insisted that the government, whose budget for this year is equivalent to roughly $3 billion, has not wasted public funds.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/27790863.html

[armnuke]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

The U.S. will Support Armenia to Weaken Economic Dependency from Russia

The issue of economic assistance to Eurasia in 2017 has been covered in the U.S. Congress, VOA informs.

The United States will help Armenia to improve economic condition and integrate into the South Caucasus energy system. Thomas Melia, USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, stated this in Washington D.C.. Touching upon hearings in the Congress Melia introduced foreign aid priorities in the period of 2017:

“Our economic assistance directed to Armenia will allow the latter to decrease economic dependency from Russia. It’ll also allow Armenia to integrate into regional energy systems. Some part will be directed to strengthening of local self-governance inside the country.”

Based on the state budget draft bill by the White House, economic assistance directed to Armenia in 2017 will grow by 22%, thus comprising USD 22 million. Besides, the U.S. will direct more than USD 3 million for the development of Armenia’s military and legal systems. Many of the U.S. legislatives, however, still anticipate to considerably increase economic assistance provided to Armenia during the budget hearings. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher stressed that the U.S. has a crucial feature—consciousness of sharing with others.

“I have always been proud with generosity of the American people, they are always ready to stretch a hand for the needy people, even if they have never met them.”

Alina Romanowski, Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, during the hearings introduced the four main directions of economic assistance in the territory of Eurasia. In particular, they include strengthening of countries’ independence and sovereignty, helping countries to defend from external pressure, fight against corruption and provision of rule of law, strengthening of democracy and protection of freedom of speech, as well as maintenance of peace.

“The fourth priority of the U.S. economic assistance is provision of peace for the countries of the region, which has appeared under a serious threat.”

By the way, economic assistance directed to Azerbaijan is twice less than that allocated to Armenia, which is mainly directed to the development of democracy and open society. According to the representative of the U.S. International Development Agency, Azerbaijan’s serious regress in that field was taken into account while making the decision.

http://en.168.am/2016/06/11/7913.html#.V159slRbISk.facebook

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

US policy has been horrible towards Armenia for a long time. It is about time something good happened.

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Iran proposing new railway plan including Armenia, economist

13:45 • 16.07.16

Iran proposes a new railway communication project connecting the
country with Europe through Armenia, according to an economist.

At a news conference on Saturday, Ashot Yengibaryan said that the
proposed route will extend from the Islamic Republic to Armenia and
Georgia in the south and Bulgaria and Greece in the west.

He added that experts recently discussed the project in Bulgaria’s
capital, Sofia, to consider the priorities and objectives.

As for Armenia, the economist noted that the country remains somewhat
isolated from regional developments. “Geopolitically, the perspective
markets for Armenia are in the Middle East and Europe rather than
Russia. Hence, Armenia’s transport routes must be integrated into
those territories. Armenia has seen very little changes, whereas the
changes in the neighboring states have been considerable. They have
alternative choices as they are integrated into other economic areas;
Armenia is ruled by the Soviet regime, which blocks the country’s
chances of development. So the railway is a necessary factor for
Armenia,” he said.

The economist noted that the limited transport communications decrease
the country’s attractiveness also in terms of investments. “Armenia
shares the same integration area with Georgia, hence there isn’t
absolutely an essential difference. [Products] may be manufactured in
Armenia and exported through Georgia; however, given the different
regimes, functioning legally in Armenia and Georgia, there are
investment-related risks.”

Yengibaryan cited the lifting of sanctions against Iran as another
factor contributing to regional rearrangements. “Russia has no
interest in Iran’s involvement in regional deals, but regardless of
its desire, it is important to take Iran into consideration as it
creates new opportunities in the region,” he explained.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.tert.am_en_news_2016_07_16_railway_2081109&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=9CS96p1cPKu4PgkLdKJ6OvdBdV3fB5ce-DAZi_nVXyE&s=LyCve2W6i-Nc48LKaz8SMZxtfjLhU_itWiOGRcJx_Cc&e=

[londontsi]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Iran proposing new railway plan including Armenia, economist

13:45 • 16.07.16

Iran proposes a new railway communication project connecting the
country with Europe through Armenia, according to an economist.

At a news conference on Saturday, Ashot Yengibaryan said that the
proposed route will extend from the Islamic Republic to Armenia and
Georgia in the south and Bulgaria and Greece in the west.

He added that experts recently discussed the project in Bulgaria’s
capital, Sofia, to consider the priorities and objectives.

As for Armenia, the economist noted that the country remains somewhat
isolated from regional developments. “Geopolitically, the perspective
markets for Armenia are in the Middle East and Europe rather than
Russia. Hence, Armenia’s transport routes must be integrated into
those territories. Armenia has seen very little changes, whereas the
changes in the neighboring states have been considerable. They have
alternative choices as they are integrated into other economic areas;
Armenia is ruled by the Soviet regime, which blocks the country’s
chances of development. So the railway is a necessary factor for
Armenia,” he said.

The economist noted that the limited transport communications decrease
the country’s attractiveness also in terms of investments. “Armenia
shares the same integration area with Georgia, hence there isn’t
absolutely an essential difference. [Products] may be manufactured in
Armenia and exported through Georgia; however, given the different
regimes, functioning legally in Armenia and Georgia, there are
investment-related risks.”

Yengibaryan cited the lifting of sanctions against Iran as another
factor contributing to regional rearrangements. “Russia has no
interest in Iran’s involvement in regional deals, but regardless of
its desire, it is important to take Iran into consideration as it
creates new opportunities in the region,” he explained.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2...WiOGRcJx_Cc&e=

I have been trying to confirm this through other sources without luck.

However I came across this which contradicts the Armenian source.

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/05/24/467239/Iran-working-on-new-transit-link-to-EU----

.