News Review: Dilijan Gets Boost From Tufenkian

[MosJan]

News Review: Dilijan gets boost from Tufenkian

ArmeniaNow reporter

Tufenkian Hospitality unveiled plans today for its next phase of tourist accommodation in Armenia, announcing the restoration of the old district of the popular resort town, Dilijan. http://www.armenianow.com/images/uploadedimages/ai224301.jpg

General manager of the company Hakob Hakobyan told journalists that a tourism center will open in Dilijan in August, along with completion of the old town district, after which the company will begin construction of the fourth in its chain of hotels – all uniquely designed to complement the existing environment.

 

Avan Dilijan Hotel is expected to be completed in 2009, offering 40 rooms and an 80-100 seat restaurant. The new hotel will follow others built by Tufenkian in the Nork district of Yerevan, in Tsapatagh (Sevan basin) and in Dzoraget (Lori region).

 

Narine Yeghoyan, sales and marketing director of the company says the project aims at both restoring economy of Dilijan and the development and promotion of crafts.

 

"One of the reconstructed premises of the Dilijan reserve will include a museum of a 19th century house, furnished with hand-made items," Yeghoyan says. "There will be also small workshops and studios for Armenian craftsmen of woodwork, tapestry, blacksmith, as well as small shops of traditional Armenian cuisine and the best products of Armenian origin."

 

Hakobyan informed the company has invested 160 million drams (about $535,000) in the reconstruction of the Dilijan area. "I suppose we will spent about 1.5 million dollars (525 million drams) for the Avan Dilijan Hotel," added the general director.

 

Mayor of Dilijan Armen Santrosyan attending the meeting told ArmeniaNow reconstruction of the district and construction of the hotel complex will greately facilitate development of the town.

 

"We have been successfully cooperating for the last two years. Besides participating in all the events in Dilijan, the Tufenkian company provides town residents with jobs and I think the hotel will provide 50 more jobs," says Santrosyan.