United Nations World Tourism Organization marks World Tourism Day on September 27.
It was at its third session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979), that the UNWTO General Assembly decided to establish World Tourism Day, beginning in 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on September 27, 1970.
The purpose of the event is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals. Armenia posted a tourist inflow of 321 279 people in January-June 2013, up 14,3% from 2012 results. In the reporting period 343 263 left the country to travel, up 13,6% from 2012 results. According to data provided by the hotels, the majority of tourists are arriving from CIS, most of the from Russia (23,7%); European tourists are second in the list, with 8,7%; 6,6%; 6,3% arriving from France, Germany and Italy respectively. 11.8%; 6%; 3%; 1,1%; 0,7% of tourists were travelling from the U.S., Iran, Georgia, Canada and Turkey.
Tourists who visited Armenia over the reposting period were spending $115 a day if using the tourist agency’s services and twice as less if travelling on their own.
On the occasion of the World Tourism Day, Armenian Youth Foundation will organize an exhibit at Yerevan’s Northern Avenue, with Armenian regions and the capital to be represented by the pavilions installed. An official ArmTourism Awards ceremony is due in the evening, to honor representatives of the sector who contributed to development of tourism in Armenia.