THE GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA PLANS TO RECEIVE 150 THOUSAND TOURISTS BY 2003

PanARMENIAN.Net - 15.08.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The state program of tourism development in Armenia will be realized in two stages - in 2000-2003 and 2004-2005, stated to the journalists the deputy minister of industry and trade of Armenia Ara Petrosian.

In the beginning of August the government of Armenia approved the state program of tourism development. According to Mr. Petrosian, 526 million drams are provided for the realization of the first stage of the program. The main condition of the realization of the program is the necessity to bring the number of the tourists visiting the country to 150 thousand in 2003. In this case, said the deputy minister, the annual tourism income will make up 150 million dollars.

By the end of the second stage, said Ara Petrosian, stable rise of the number of tourists must be provided, which is planned to be brought up to 250 thousand tourists yearly. -0-