In 2023, a significant increase in tourist visits to Armenia from EAEU countries was recorded. Armenian minister of economy Gevorg Papoyan stated this on March 25 at a meeting of the permanent parliamentary committee on regional and Eurasian integration.
"In 2023, tourist visits to Armenia amounted to about 2 million 316 thousand people, which is 39% more than in 2022. The number of tourists from Russia exceeded 1 million 153 thousand people, accounting for more than 50% of the total number of visits. The number of tourists from Belarus reached 18 thousand people, which is only 1% of the total number of visits," he said.
The Minister also spoke about the work being done with the EAEU and Western partners to ensure that Armenia does not fall under second sanctions.
"We closely cooperate with both EAEU partners and the EU and the USA... On a daily basis, we conduct detailed work to ensure, on the one hand, that we are in no way involved in these provocations and that goods subject to sanctions do not pass through our territory to EAEU countries, and we ensure this.
On the other hand, we do everything possible to ensure that all goods that do not fall into this category are imported and exported unhindered," he said.
With the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions, Armenia has become one of the few directions for the supply of European and American goods to Russia - from electronics to cars. Re-export has reached significant proportions.
Earlier, Armenian authorities acknowledged the significant presence of the re-export factor. Months ago, finance minister Vahe Hovhannisyan acknowledged that in the first half of 2023, the sharp increase in exports from Armenia to Russia in dollar terms by 215% was due to re-export.
