"Tourism in Armenia"

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Tourism in Armenia is one of the intensively developing sectors of the country's economy. In 2017, the number of tourists was 1.5 million people. In the first half of 2018, 685,970 tourists visited Armenia, compared to the same period in 2017, this figure increased by 10.2%. According to Bloomberg, Armenia is among the ten fastest growing tourist routes in Europe.

In 2019, 1.9 million tourists visited Armenia.

Tourists spend their holidays in Yerevan, where most of the hotels and travel agencies of the country are located, as well as in mountain resorts - Jermuk, Tsakhkadzor, Dilijan, etc., visiting historical and cultural monuments and natural monuments of Armenia.

Both among the population of Armenia and among tourists visiting the country, extreme tourism is popular, which has been developing in Armenia since the middle of the XX century.

Development of tourism in Armenia

Historical period
As a country with an ancient history, rich culture and good geographical location, Armenia has always attracted travelers. Already in the early Middle Ages in Armenia there were inns for travelers - ijevanatuns, where travelers, traders, artisans who drove along the Great Silk Road stayed.

In the new and modern times, the tourist infrastructure began to develop actively in Armenia. Since the end of the XIX century, the Armenian regions that were part of the Russian Empire (Yerevan and Elizavetpol provinces, Kars region), were connected with other regions of Transcaucasia, and later with Russia and neighboring countries. At the beginning of the XX century, dirt and railway, telephone and telegraph communications were carried out.

Soviet period
During the Soviet regime (1922-1991), numerous organized groups of tourists from the Union republics came to Armenia for vacation.

With the active assistance of Ilya Kevorkov, hotel complexes were built in Yerevan for guests from abroad. Among the more famous hotels were Armenia (now Marriott Armenia), Intourist (since 1959 - Yerevan, now - Royal Tulip Grand Yerevan), Ani (now - Ani Plaza Hotel). The latter was built in 1970 - in honor of the 50th anniversary of Soviet Armenia, and bears the name of the capital of the Bagratid Kingdom. In the 1980s, new hotels were built in Yerevan - "Youth Palace", "Dvin", "Shirak" and others. Other cities, such as Dilijan, Sevan, Arzni, Vanadzor (formerly Kirovakan), Tsaghkadzor and Jermuk, became famous resorts and treatment centers.

The Armenian railway is expanding, new stations and directions are being built, thousands of kilometers of new roads, international airports Erebuni and Zvartnots, local airports in the cities of Bird, Stepanavan, Tashir, Gyumri, Sisian, Jermuk, Goris, Meghri, Kapan were also built.

Transitional period
In the 1990s, tourism in Armenia suffered a setback, which was associated with the Spitak earthquake, the Karabakh war, and the economic crisis. The railway only worked in the Georgian direction