On May 21 through 31, Armenia will host Armenian First Ascent Open Festival. The event is organized by Up the Rocks with the financial support of National Competitiveness Foundation (NCF) of Armenia.

Gorges of Garni, Arpa and Noravank are selected as festival sites for rock climbers from 10 countries.

As NCF tourist program director Syuzanna Azoyan stressed, the event will help increase Armenia's tourist potential, presenting Armenia in a new, untraditional light.

The first international rock climbing festival organized in 2009 hosted climbers from Russia, Iran and the Czech Republic.