Tourism in Armenia

In February 2020, the UN's World Tourism Organization reported that Armenia is one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations according to the latest statistics. Armenia ranked 12th with 14.4% growth in the list of 20 fastest growing countries for tourism, according to data gathered.{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1003584.html|title=Armenia among world's fastest growing tourist destinations – UNWTO|website=Armenpress.am|access-date=2020-02-04}}

French magazine Le Quotidien du tourisme mentioned Armenia as the most trending destination of 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.quotidiendutourisme.com/destination/quel-est-le-top-10-des-destinations-tendance-en-2020/190903|title=Quel est le Top 10 des destinations tendance en 2020?|last=dit|first=Tesson|website=Quotidien du tourisme|date=13 November 2019 |language=fr-FR|access-date=2019-11-20}}

Yerevan was included in Booking.com's top 10 trending destinations for 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://travelpredictions2020.com/#13|title=Booking.com {{!}} English|website=travelpredictions2020.com|access-date=2019-10-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.booking.com/jodhpur-india-in-10-of-the-top-trending-destinations-globally-for-2020-reveals-bookingcom/|title=Jodhpur, India in 10 of the top trending destinations globally for 2020: reveals Booking.com|website=Jodhpur, India in 10 of the top trending destinations globally for 2020: reveals Booking.com|language=en-in|access-date=2019-10-21}}

In October 2019, chief executive of Ryanair stated that Armenia has become one of Europe's fastest growing tourist destinations, during an announcement of launching new Ryanair flight routes between several European cities and Armenia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/ryanair-flights-to-armenia|title = Ryanair is launching flights to Armenia - here's what you can do there}}

As per the 2019 Travel and Tourism competitiveness report, Armenia scored 7th-best in the world on the Hotel Price Index.{{Cite web|url=https://wef.ch/3129pen|title=Rankings|website=Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-09}} It also scored 3rd-best in Europe on tourist-friendly visa requirements. Overall, Armenia scored 79th of 140 countries. Calculation of overall scores includes some controversial subcategories related to country size (e.g. number of large sports stadiums), estimates based on old data (like 2014 data for aircraft departures) and non-applicable data (in case of landlocked Armenia - quality of ports infrastructure).{{Cite web|url=https://wef.ch/313n4BW|title=Country Profiles|website=Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-09}} Out of 140 countries Armenia ranked: 50 on Enabling Environment Subindex, 74 on Travel & Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions Subindex, 81 on Infrastructure Subindex, 103 on Natural and Cultural Resources and Business Travel Subindex.{{Cite web|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TTCR_2019.pdf|title=The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019}}

Forbes Magazine listed Armenia among top budget travel destinations for 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2018/12/31/the-18-best-budget-travel-destinations-for-2019/|title=The 18 Best Budget Travel Destinations For 2019|last=Talty|first=Alexandra|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-01-06}} Meanwhile, CNN has ranked Armenia's capital Yerevan as one of the top 20 most beautiful European cities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/beautiful-european-cities-few-tourists/index.html|title=20 beautiful European cities with hardly any tourists|website=CNN|date=23 July 2019 }}

In July 2019, the chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, Artur Javadyan, stated that the average spending of tourists had increased by more than 17 per cent from 2013 to 2018 and roughly 300 new hotels opened over the last six years.{{cite web| url = https://emerging-europe.com/news/armenia-sees-big-increase-in-tourist-spending/| title = Armenia sees big increase in tourist spending - Emerging Europe| date = 15 July 2019}}

In 2018, receipts from international tourism amounted to $1.2 billion or $413 per capita. In per capita terms Armenia was ahead of Turkey and Azerbaijan, but behind Georgia.{{Cite book|url=https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284421152|title=International Tourism Highlights, 2019 Edition|website=www.e-unwto.org|year=2019|publisher=World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)|doi=10.18111/9789284421152|isbn=9789284421152|s2cid=240665765|access-date=2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://i.redd.it/i8xqp7h4hix31.jpg|title=Map of international tourism receipts per capita in Europe in 2018.}}

In 2016, The Daily Telegraph rated Armenia as "Europe's best kept secret".{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/articles/why-armenia-might-be-europes-best-kept-secret/|title = Why Armenia might be Europe's best-kept secret|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 10 November 2016|last1 = Gardner|first1 = Frank}}

Currently, the majority of tourists arriving in Armenia are from the member states of the European Union, CIS countries including Russia and Kazakhstan,{{cite web| url = https://jam-news.net/tourism-surges-in-armenia/| title = Tourism surges in Armenia - JAMnews| date = 27 December 2018}} and also from Georgia, Iran, the United States and increasingly from Asia, in particular China, Japan,{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/497736.html|title=Ambassador: 3,974 Japanese tourists visited Armenia last year|website=news.am|date=17 June 2023 }} South Korea, the Philippines and India.{{cite journal|date=5 February 2010|title=Tourism boosts in Armenia|url=http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2010/02/05/apresyan/1157574|journal=Panorama.am|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208031928/http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2010/02/05/apresyan/1157574|archive-date=8 December 2015}}{{cite web| url = https://armenpress.am/eng/news/958305.html| title = Number of tourist visits to Armenia increases by 8.8% during 2018 {{!}} ARMENPRESS Armenian News Agency}}{{cite web| url = https://armenpress.am/eng/news/967812.html| title = Number of tourists visiting Armenia will increase 15% in 2019, Tourism Federation Chairman predicts {{!}} ARMENPRESS Armenian News Agency}} In addition, due to ongoing cultural and education system reforms, thousands of students from India, Iran and Arabic countries started to visit Armenia in order to study in the main universities of Yerevan, especially at the Yerevan State Medical University, promoting further tourism.

Armenia also has the capability to hold both regional political and large-scale international conferences and events. For example, Armenia hosted the Plenary meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in 2015 as well as ongoing Eastern Partnership and CIS conferences. In October 2018, Armenia hosted the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Summit for the first time, where representatives of 54 countries participated. In November 2018, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation was held in Yerevan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pam.int/default.asp?m=news&id=818|title=Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean}} In September 2019, Armenia hosted the European Heritage Days,{{cite web| url = https://en.armradio.am/2019/09/27/armenia-to-host-european-heritage-days/| title = Armenia to host European Heritage Days – Public Radio of Armenia}} Armenia also hosted the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in July and the World Information Technology and Services Alliance Congress for the first time, in which 2000 delegates from around 83 countries participated.{{Cite web|url=https://10times.com/wcit-yerevan|title = World Congress on Information Technology}} Also in 2019, Armenia hosted the Eurasian Economic Union Summit in Yerevan, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the [https://summitofminds.com/ Summit of Minds] international conference, making Armenia the first country to host the event outside of France.{{Cite web|url=https://hetq.am/en/article/105321|title=Pashinyan, Putin Discuss Upcoming EAEU Summit in Yerevan|website=Hetq.am|date=5 July 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://asbarez.com/armenia-to-host-summit-of-minds/|title=Armenia to Host Summit of Minds – Asbarez.com}}

In August 2020, the President of Armenia, Armen Sarksyan, announced that Armenia will host the sixth Starmus Festival from September 6 to 11, 2021. The event was sponsored by the President himself, as well as, the Ministry of Education and Science. The event brought together world-class scientists, artists, astronauts, and the general public to celebrate science communication and to share latest discoveries in a number of scientific fields.{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1025136|title=2021 STARMUS festival expected to boost Armenia tourism|website=armenpress.am}}{{Cite web|url=https://astronomy.com/magazine/news/2020/12/get-ready-for-starmus-vi|title=Get ready for Starmus VI|website=astronomy.com|date=23 December 2020 }}

In 2022, Armenia hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.{{Cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/armenia-to-host-20th-junior-eurovision-in-2022|title=Armenia to host 20th Junior Eurovision in 2022 |website=junioreurovision.tv|date=21 December 2021 }}

Since the 2000s, a new page for Armenian tourism was opened. Diaspora Armenians from Russia, United States, Lebanon, France and other countries increasingly visited Armenia to see their independent homeland and free Artsakh.{{cn|date=August 2024}} Also many foreigners from Europe and the United States started viewing Armenia as a tourist destination.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In addition, the increasing of visitors of Persians, Kurds and Iranian Azerbaijanis was a new concept for tourism in Armenia.{{cite journal|date=22 July 2009|title=Отдых в Армении остается популярным|url=http://www.travel.ru/news/2009/07/22/172432.html|journal=Travel.ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723225011/http://www.travel.ru/news/2009/07/22/172432.html|archive-date=23 July 2009}} Middle Eastern tourists started visiting Armenia since the 1990s, but in the 2000s visiting Armenia became more popular, especially for Iranians. Many Iranians enjoy celebrating Nowruz (Iranian New Year) in Armenia, which is held on the 21 March, and spend their summer and winter vacations in a country free of religious restrictions and greater freedoms. The number of tourists visiting Artsakh has seen increases as well.

Since 2012, new hotels were built in Armenia, and the old ones were reconstructed. ″Tufenkian″ hotels (in Yerevan, Tsapatagh, Dzoraget and Dilijan), ″National″, ″Paris″ hotels were built in Yerevan, ″Nairi″ and ″Silachi″ hotels were reopened, Marriott opened the second hotel in Tsaghkadzor, and in 2013, Hyatt opened two hotels - in Jermuk and Yerevan, Golden Palace was opened in Tsaghkadzor, later two more hotels - Opera Suite Hotel and Radisson Blu were opened in Yerevan.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} These were the best hotels, with 4 or 5 stars.

The number of visitors to Armenia increases also due to festivals and international competitions. Examples include, the annual Golden Apricot international film festival, the annual Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity award shows, the 2011 Junior Eurovision Song Contest hosted in Armenia, the Birthright Armenia Program in which thousands of schoolchildren and students worldwide visit Armenia, and every four years, the Pan-Armenian Games are hosted in Armenia, in which thousands of competitors from across the Armenian Diaspora compete in various sporting events.

File:Hotel Yerevan Royal Tulip (7).JPG, established in 1926 and formerly named "Intourist".}}]]

File:Hotel London (Yerevan, 1891).jpg, 1891}}]]

The tourism sector is regulated by the Tourism Committee,{{Cite web|url=https://armenia.travel/en|title=The official tourism website of Armenia|website=armenia.travel|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}} a department of the Ministry of Economy.

Armenia has made tourism a state level priority. Tourism is one of the principles of state policy as defined in the Tourism and Tourist Activities Law. The general purpose of state tourism policy is to expand tourism's contribution to the national economy's sustainable development and equal territorial economic growth, while also reducing poverty through maintaining high rates of growth in the number of inbound and domestic tourists, enhancing tourism-generated revenue by providing higher-value products and services and generating new job opportunities in the industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mineconomy.am/en/page/89|title=Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Tourism|website=www.mineconomy.am}}

Effective tourism state policy development and execution, well-established public-private partnerships, and mutually beneficial international and regional cooperation have resulted in tremendous growth in the tourist sector over the previous decade. This expansion is seen in both the quantity and geographic spread of international tourist visits, as well as investment in hospitality and related infrastructure. Armenia's tourism business has grown significantly in the last five years, with an average growth of nearly 9%  per year in international tourist arrivals.

In 2019 the number of incoming tourists increased by 15% to 1.93 million visitors.

Safety Index 2020 published by Numbeo ranks Armenia as 9th safest country in the world, at par with Switzerland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp?title=2020&displayColumn=1|title=Safety Index by Country 2020|website=www.numbeo.com|access-date=2020-01-27}}

Armenia ranked 94th on the Global Terrorism Index of 2019, better than nearly all Western European and Scandinavian countries (except for Portugal, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark). Armenia and Kazakhstan had the largest improvements in the Eurasia region.{{Cite web|url=http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2019/11/GTI-2019web.pdf|title=Global Terrorism Index 2019}}

Armenia is among the world's safest countries according to Gallup International's 2019 Law and Order report. Based on the outcomes of the survey aiming to identify the Countries/Areas Most Likely to Feel Safe, Armenia is ranked the 7th on the list of the 18 states appearing in the top positions. An estimated 89% of the respondents said they feel absolutely safe in Armenia. The country has thus shared the 6th-7th positions with Switzerland. In the main ranking, Armenia shares the 11th position along with countries like France, Ireland, Sweden and Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tert.am/en/news/2019/11/12/Gallup/3138651|title=Armenia named among world's safest countries on Gallup International's 2019 report|website=www.tert.am|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gallup.com/analytics/267869/gallup-global-law-order-report-2019.aspx|title=2019 Global Law and Order Report|last=Inc|first=Gallup|website=Gallup.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}

{{See also| List of airports in Armenia| List of the busiest airports in Armenia| List of airlines of Armenia}}

Air traffic is regulated by the Civil Aviation Committee.

An agreement on "Comprehensive Air Transportation" was initiated with the EU, the ratification of which will liberalize Armenian market for all EU member states and introduce EU criteria ensuring predictable business for airlines.

The number of tourists arriving in the country by air transportation has been increasing yearly. In 2018, passenger flow at the two main airports of Armenia reached a record high of 2,856,673 million people. At the end of 2019, this figure further increased, surpassing 3,000,000 passengers for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1000488.html|title=Yerevan airport records 3,000,000 yearly passenger flow first time ever|website=Armenpress|access-date=30 December 2019}}

File:Yerevan Zvartnots International.jpg

The main airports used for commercial aviation are Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport and Gyumri's Shirak Airport.

Reconstruction of the previously defunct Syunik Airport near the town of Kapan was completed in December 2020, with flights expected to begin in January 2022.{{cite web|title=The restoration works of "Syunik" airport in Kapan have been completed|url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/12/05/the-restoration-works-of-syunik-airport-in-kapan-have-been-completed/|access-date=10 February 2021|website=ArmRadio}}{{Cite web|title=Regular flights between Yerevan and Kapan to be launched on January 20, 2020|url=http://arka.am/en/news/business/regular_flights_between_yerevan_and_kapan_to_be_launched_on_january_20_2020_/|access-date=2021-12-29|website=arka.am|date=11 November 2021 }} One way flights between Yerevan and Kapan should take 40 minutes and cost 20,000 dram, compared to 5 hours by taxi costing 6,000 dram, allowing easy access of tourists to southern Armenia and Artsakh.{{Cite web|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/275110/|title=Սյունիքի օդանավակայանը 2020-ին շահագործման կհանձնվի|website=PanARMENIAN.Net|access-date=2019-11-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/976264/|title=2,3 billion dram investment project to re-commission Kapan Airport with int'l standards in Armenia|website=armenpress.am|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20}}{{Cite web|title=Company Tied to Syunik Government Gets 25-Year Lease to Operate Kapan Airport|url=https://hetq.am/en/article/82306|access-date=2021-12-29|website=Hetq.am|date=30 September 2017 |language=en}}

In October 2019, Ryanair begun selling tickets to Yerevan and Gyumri.{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanairs-low-fares-come-to-armenia/|title=Ryanair's Low Fares Come To Armenia {{!}} Ryanair's Corporate Website|date=16 October 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-21}} WizzAir announced flights from Vienna and Vilnius commencing in April 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/wizz-air-hldgs-armenia-idUSL8N28Q13O|title=Wizz Air expands into Armenia with two new routes|date=2019-12-16|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-12-16|language=en}} AirBaltic scheduled to resume flights to Yerevan in May 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.airbaltic.com/en/cheap-flights-to-yerevan|title=Cheap flights to Yerevan {{!}} airBaltic|website=www.airbaltic.com|access-date=2019-10-21}}

During June 2016 - August 2021, thirteen airlines began operating flights to Armenia and two have resumed flights:{{Cite web|url=http://arka.am/en/news/business/some_12_new_airlines_began_to_operate_flights_to_armenia_over_2_last_years/|title=Some 12 new airlines began to operate flights to Armenia over 2 last years|website=arka.am|date=7 May 2018 |access-date=2018-05-07}} Armenia Aircompany, Brussels Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cham Wings, Air Cairo, Red Wings, Nordwind Airlines, Pobeda, Belavia (resumed flights), Czech Airlines (resumed flights), WizzAir, Ryanair, Eurowings, Condor (airline), and Lufthansa.

In 2011, the journal ″National Geographic Traveler″ qualified Armenia not only a historical and cultural, but also extreme touristic county.{{cite journal|date=23 September 2013|title=Экстремальный туризм в Армении оценил известный журнал "National Geographic Traveler"|url=http://prohotel.ru/news-163626/0/|journal=Prohotel.ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927223927/http://prohotel.ru/news-163626/0/|archive-date=27 September 2011}}

Armenia has 85.9% mountain area, more than Switzerland or Nepal,{{Cite web|url=https://farm1.staticflickr.com/779/30949572663_37d588c515_o.jpg|title=Percentage of Mountain Area per Country (map)}} opening large possibilities for active travelers.

Armenia has various offers for tourists interested in sports and extreme activities - such as skiing,{{Cite web|url=http://ropeway.am/|title=Ropeway Tsaghkadzor|website=ropeway.am|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-16}} mountaineering, camping, hiking,{{Cite web|url=http://www.armgeo.am|title=Արշավներ և լեռնագնացություն Հայաստանում / ArmGeo|website=Armenian Geographic - ArmGeo.am|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-16}} speleology tours,{{Cite web|url=https://armextremeclub.wordpress.com/category/caving-%D6%84%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B1%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%AD%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A6%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6/|title=Caving / Քարանձավախուզություն « Armenian Extreme Club|website=armextremeclub.wordpress.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-16}} paragliding, zipline,{{Cite web|url=http://www.yellextremepark.com|title=Yell Extreme Park - Homepage|last=Paruyryan|first=MheR|website=www.yellextremepark.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://zipline.am/|title=Zip Line Tsaghkadzor {{!}} Arshavner Akumb|website=zipline.am|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/YerevanZipLineAirlines/|title=Yerevan Zipline Airlines|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-16}} balloon flights, helicopter tours and the current longest reversible aerial tramway in the world.{{Cite web|url=http://skyball.am/|title=SKYBALL|website=SKYBALL|language=ru-RU|access-date=2018-01-16}}{{Main|Paragliding in Armenia}}

Armenia has favorable conditions for paragliding in independent and tandem flights. Owing to the height and rugged landscape, the country has various micro climates, creating perfect circumstances for paragliding. The first paragliding flights were held by the members of "Small Aviation Club of Armenia" in 1996. Later, in 2008, Armenian Paragliding Sport Federation was founded. Currently AVIS club{{Cite web|url=http://paraglider.am/en/|title=AVIS small aviation club|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-21}} and Sky club{{Cite web|url=http://www.paraplan.am/|title=HOME|website="SKY CLUB" Paragliding in Armenia|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-21}} are most active. They organize competitions, paragliding learning courses nowadays and tandem flights with flying season lasting from May to November. Tandem and free flights are mostly launched at mountains near Hatis, Aparan and Lake Sevan. Depending on the weather conditions tandem flights last up to 20 minutes.{{cite web|url=http://araratour.com/paragliding-armenia/ |title=Paragliding in Armenia • Arara Tour |publisher=Araratour.com |access-date=2017-12-14}}

Armenia is also a burgeoning ecotourism destination, with activities such as agrotourism, rural life experiences, rafting and biking. Popular ecotourism destinations include the villages of Kalavan, Urtsadzor; eco-lodging spots like Yenokavan, Lastiver and others.{{cite web|url=https://www.bumpylands.com/blog/ecotourism-in-armenia/ |title=Ecotourism in Armenia • Bumpylands |date=17 August 2019 |publisher=bumpylands.com |access-date=2019-08-25}}

{{See also| List of World Heritage Sites in Armenia}}

There are some objects in Armenia which are in the official list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

There are also four tentative World Heritage Sites in Armenia:

The archaeological site of the city of Dvin, the basilica and archaeological site of Yererouk, the monasteries of Tatev and Tatevi, and the monastery of Noravank and the upper Amaghou Valley.{{cite web|title = Armenia - World Heritage Site - Pictures, info and travel reports|url = http://www.worldheritagesite.org/countries/armenia.html|website = www.worldheritagesite.org|access-date = 2015-11-26}}

File:Haghpat-Nshan.jpg|Monastery of Haghpat

File:Sanahin Monastery.jpg|Monastery of Sanahin

File:Zvartnots img 6965.jpg|The Archaeological Site of Zvartnots

File:Храм Гарни - один из символов Армении.jpg|Temple of Garni

File:Geghard1.jpg|Monastery of Geghard

File:Garni Canyon, Azat River Canyon, Armenia.jpg|The Upper Azat Valley

• Geography of Armenia
• List of volcanoes in Armenia
• Mountains of Armenia
• Tourism in the Republic of Artsakh
• Transport in Armenia
• Visa policy of Armenia

{{reflist}}

{{wikivoyage|Armenia}}

• [https://armenia.travel/ The official tourism website of Armenia]
• [https://guides.am/en/ Armenian Association of Professional Tourist Guides]
• [https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/am Armenian properties inscribed on the World Heritage List]

{{World Heritage Sites in Armenia}}

{{Tourism}}

{{Tourism in Asia}}

{{Tourism in Europe}}

{{Armenia topics}}