By Eva Sahakyan

YEREVAN, August 30 — Armenia needs to renew its offered tourist services, Bekor Papazian, head of the National Competitiveness Fund of the Republic of Armenia, said.

“We must not be satisfied only with cultural and historical tourism. Using this facilities we must offer other services, adventure tourism, for instance, as Armenia is rich in natural attractions, which are situated not far from ancient Armenian churches,” Papazian said.

According to him the peculiarity of Armenian tourism is that cultural, historical values and ecotourism facilities are combined in one area.

Papazian said that Jermuk is a great example and today Swiss specialists work there. According to him Jermuk is a great potential skiing resort and at the same time offers thermal spring services.

He also mentioned that sports tourism will also be developed in Armenia and Lake Sevan will become an air tourism center.

“We have already informed that German specialists consider Lake Sevan to be the place for the development of sports tourism. We have already come into an agreement and relevant work has already started,” Papazian said.

In the first half of 2010 Armenia had 230,100 tourists, which is 11.2 percent more that the rate in the first half of 2009.

Yerevan Report