On May 21-31, Armenia hosted the second international rock climbing festival organized by Up The Rocks club through the financial assistance of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.

Founder of the club Mkhitar Mkhitaryan told a press conference in Yerevan that the festival was better organized this year and stirred great interest among alpinists.

“The festival participants have not left the country yet, as they want to visit some other gorges. The event brought together 17 alpinists this year,” Mkhitaryan said, adding that 24 alpinists were expected to participate in the festival, but the Iranian group has not arrived.

Head of the tourism project of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) Syuzanna Azoyan said for her part that foreign alpinists are admired by Armenia’s nature.

Alpinists from Russia, the U.S., Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine and Austria participated in the festival.