Armenia's Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan, has announced the launch of a large-scale TRIP program in collaboration with the World Bank, which includes a $100 million investment in the country’s tourism sector. The minister shared this news during the annual review event of the Tourism Committee.
According to the Tourism Committee, approximately 1.93 million tourists visited Armenia from January to October 2024. While this represents a slight decline of 5.8% compared to the same period in 2023, it is 15% higher than the pre-pandemic level of 2019 when 1.68 million tourists visited the country.
Minister Papoyan highlighted that 2024 was a landmark year for Armenian tourism, with the country receiving several prestigious international accolades.
"The renowned travel guide Lonely Planet named Armenia the best travel destination for 2025, and Wanderlust magazine included the country among the top 10 emerging tourist destinations. Additionally, the Italian Association of Travel Journalists recognized the Vayots Dzor region as the best international destination for culinary and wine tourism," Papoyan detailed.
Significant progress was made in promoting Armenia internationally throughout the year. Over 90 foreign journalists participated in familiarization tours, resulting in more than 500 articles about Armenia published in international media. A new tourism and investment guide for the country was developed, and a draft law on tourism aimed at regulating the sector was adopted.
"Tourism plays a pivotal role not only in boosting the economy, creating jobs, and attracting new investments but also in enhancing Armenia’s image on the global stage," Minister Papoyan emphasized. He added that the tourism sector’s budgetary funding is set to increase in 2025.
