150 THOUSAND TOURISTS WILL BE PRESENT AT THE FESTIVITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net - 05.12.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. "All the Armenian hotels can't room 150 thousand tourists, which are to visit Armenia in 2001 connected with the festivities to be held on the occasion of the proclamation of Christianity as state religion in Armenia", said deputy head of the state committee for festivities organization Khosrov Harutiunian.

The committee has worked out a program to involve private sector in accommodation allocation for the tourists. Large cities of Armenia are also included in the program besides Yerevan. Harutiunian said that the committee has worked out cooperation agreements between private hosts and tourist agencies.

182 million dollars are allotted from the state budget for the preparation of New Year and Christmas festivities within the program framework. By President Kocharian's order another 500 million drams will be allotted for further organization of festivities to be held on the occasion of the adoption of Christianity. Khosrov Harutiunian noted that the Lincy Foundation, patronized by multimillionaire Kirk Kerkorian, has allotted 20 million dollars for the festivities organization. -0-