28 replies to this topic

[gamavor]

Another factor that alures tourists is the changes in the country. They are so vivid and emotional that you can feel them everytime you visit the country. Like, Oh there was a tramstop here, or look there is a new metro station, or there was a shop on this corner, etc...

[Nazarian]

Nice footage for the Diaspora Armenians. It would have been better to use something other than the crappy music.

Was this a Kocharian election campaign video?

[Nazarian]

"History buffs" generally do not travel to Armenia: there are too many other destinations around that would be of more interest to them.
"Backpackers" (as you call them) or "independent travellers" (as the tourist industry calls them) tend to avoid Armenia for five main reasons.

1/ It is expensive to get to.

2/ Because of closed borders it is a cul-de-sac for travel: generally you have to leave by the same route as you arrived.

3/ Armenian hotels all have extortionately high prices compared to neighbouring countries.

4/ Outside of Yerevan, there are very few hotels.

5/ Armenian visas are completely overpriced and highly restrictive compared to neighbouring countries (eg. Georgia is free; Turkey is only $15, is multiple entry, and lasts for 3 months).

Independent travellers generally contribute the most to a country's economy: they stay longer, they stay in smaller and locally-owned hotels, they use public transport, they take a more active interest in the country and attempt to engage with the local population, etc. Other tourists, including those from the Armenian diaspora, tend to stay in expensive foreign-owned hotels or with relatives, and pay for their holidays using travel agents in their home countries.

Backpackers are not a desirable tourist demographics. They eat baked beans they have brought with them from their home country, and sleep on train station floors. They probably cost more to the host country.

[neko]

Backpackers are not a desirable tourist demographics. They eat baked beans they have brought with them from their home country, and sleep on train station floors. They probably cost more to the host country.

I think you are confusing eastern-European weirdos with normal people from the rest of the World. I remember a group of 4 Czechs I came across last year, occupying a 2nd class Turkish train compartment, clothes scattered everywhere, a pot on their gas stove busy bubbling away on the middle of the floor. The cost of their German-made prepacked meal, their Czech-made lemonade, and the gas probably cost more than a meal in the dining car.

Edited by neko, 09 February 2007 - 10:25 AM.

[Nazarian]

Zartonk, please explain "KATS."

It's pronounced as cutz or kahtz. It means a bitch - used for female dogs or women with unpleasant personalities.

[Harut]

she was probably assigned to write this article agaist her will, about a country she didn't care about (probably a country that she didn't even know existed until writing this article), so she just went mad...

[nairi]

Independent travellers generally contribute the most to a country's economy: they stay longer, they stay in smaller and locally-owned hotels, they use public transport, they take a more active interest in the country and attempt to engage with the local population, etc. Other tourists, including those from the Armenian diaspora, tend to stay in expensive foreign-owned hotels or with relatives, and pay for their holidays using travel agents in their home countries.

Hmm, I don’t see how independent travelers contribute more to the country's economy than diasporans staying with relatives. Those who stay with relatives probably contribute more to the micro-economy of individuals (mostly relatives and friends) than other types of tourists. True, they don’t pay for a place to stay, but many will contribute to costs of food and provide their relatives with basic necessities such as washing-machines, fridges, telephones, and computers. Some have even bought new housing for their relatives. Most probably simply give cash to their relatives to do as they wish with it.

[Boghos]

I don´t think Armenia is a destination for backpackers.

Let´s look at Bhutan for a second:a small country, difficult access, really expensive and accepting a limited amount of tourists every year.And it is able to fill that amount with no trouble at all.Bhutan offers pristine nature and interesting Buddist temples, very little in terms of entertainment.People usually fly in from India and return the same way.I loath crazy comparisons, I am not saying Armenia is Bhutan, but with proper marketing Armenia could be a very interesting destination for high end tourism.There are a few nice hotels, there is Tufenkian, people are usually very receptive, nature is beautiful and the food tastes "natural and there is a lot in archaelogical terms, usually well kept, mostly without hustlers.And if you want more "exotic" you can fly on to Iran.

We don´t need bums in Armenia.Let them stay in Turkey .

Edited by Boghos, 09 February 2007 - 02:01 PM.

[SanVal]

The problem is that Armenia isn't Bhutan. Unfortunately, many people still think of it in generic terms: as one of those post-Soviet republics, which in their minds are very much alike. So, when they decide to go to one of them, the great majority choose to go to Russia. If Armenia wants to attract the type who go to Bhutan, it will need to pander to the western taste for Middle Eastern things or something exotic.

If it does that, it'll have a good chance of attracting tourists because they'll think it has the exoticism factor without the danger of terrorism or having rocks thrown at you because you're a woman and are wearing shorts.