October 8, 2001 - 21:49 AMT
ARMENIAN TOURISM BUSINESS SUFFERED $ 50 MILLION LOSSES BECAUSE OF TERRORIST ACTS IN USA
Armenian tourism business has suffered $ 50 mln losses because of the terrorist acts in the USA. As "Arka" agency informs, according to the leading travel agencies' information, about 50 thousand tourists, who should have arrived in Armenia for the celebrations of the 1700 anniversary of Christianity adoption canceled planned visits. Yerevan's hotels have also suffered losses. Especially, "Armenia" hotel has had $ 200 thousand losses. Though the official events for the celebration of the 1700 anniversary of Christianity adoption in Armenia finished, experts think, the events in the US will have considerable consequences in the development of the tourism in Armenia. Liza Skorolini, co-founder of "Armenia Information" center, implementing the project for tourism development in the country, thinks, "people are afraid of visiting new places". According to her, it will be difficult for the organizers of the trips to sell tickets in new ways.