The Minister of Economy of Armenia discussed plans for the development of the tourism sector with industry representatives.
On Tuesday, May 6, Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan met with the President of the Armenian Tourism Federation Mekhak Apresyan and other representatives of the tourism sector.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Economy, the parties discussed strategies to overcome existing challenges in the tourism sector.
"The issues of plans to improve the attractiveness of tourist destinations, the development of domestic and inbound tourism, cooperation with foreign states and international organizations, as well as the enhancement of the quality of tourist services, were raised," the statement said.
Mekhak Apresyan told BMG that during the meeting with the Minister of Economy, specific steps for the development of Armenia's tourism industry were discussed.
They presented a package of proposals for amending legislation to regulate the work of tour operators and guides. Now, a notification system is being introduced: organizations and individuals involved in this field must inform the government about their activities. If the company and its representatives are qualified, they are allowed to work without any problems.
They also proposed that the government exempt from VAT those guides and companies that have notified about their activities. This should serve as an incentive for all interested parties to inform the government about their activities and undergo the notification procedure.
According to Apresyan, this is not just a tax break because it concerns the export of services, and in this case, VAT exemption is necessary.
Earlier, BMG reported that in March 2024, Armenia was visited by 154,215 tourists. In total, about 436,000 tourists visited Armenia in the first quarter of this year. This is 3% less compared to the same period last year.
