Active cooperation with European tour operators will be the focus of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) in 2010, particularly operators from England, Germany and France, Bekor Papazyan, NCFA Executive Director told a briefing at the Government of Armenia.

"We intend to offer a number of new tourist products to people visiting Armenia," he said. Among the proposed products he mentioned the national cuisine and the Tatev monastery complex. Cableway at the Tatev monastery will be put into operation this fall, and the monastery complex will be completely renovated by 2012.

The NCFA Board of Trustees held a meeting from 13 to 14 February in Yerevan under the chairmanship of Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan. The proposals on joining the Fund with the Armenian Tourism Development Agency, as well as on cooperation with USAID. Will be submitted to the meeting.

Contract for construction of the cableway leading to the Tatev monastery complex was signed in Yerevan on July 14. Construction of the cableway is part of the Revival and restoration of Tatev 20-million-worth program carried out by NCFA since February 2009. The cost of the construction of the cableway is 6,8 million euros.

Tatev monastery was a major cultural center with a scriptorium, a library and one of the most famous medieval universities.

On February 11, 2010 the Government of Armenia adopted Tourism Development Program in Armenia for 2010. The number of tourists visiting Armenia in 2009, increased by 3% and amounted to 575 281 tourists. Tourism Development Program requires 2,5-3 billion investments, the state is ready to pay USD 700 million.