The number of Iranian tourists in Armenia decreased

The tour operators explain decrease of the traditional stream of Iranian tourists coming to celebrate Novruz in Armenia by inflation in Iran, high prices in Armenia and rivalry of Georgia.

Thousands of tourists from Iran annually come to Armenia on March, 21, to celebrate Novruz as an official beginning of the New Year by the solar calendar. The holiday lasts 13 days.

However, there is no inrush this year. According to the Ministry of Economy, in 2010, 21 400 people came to Armenia from Iran to celebrate Novruz and in 2011 their number came to 25 000.

Head of Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia Mehak Apresyan considers inflation in Iran the reason for decrease of the number of Iranian tourists during the days of Novruz.

Nune Manukyan who had been dealing with development of tourism in Armenia for over ten years said that decrease of the number of tourists from Iran was connected with high prices on rooms in the hotels and air tickets.

“This year Georgia tried to introduce some changes to its tariff policy and in this way attracted the Iranian tourists who used to come to Armenia for the days of Novruz”, she added.

Farzani Tehrani who came to Yerevan from Tehran with her husband and two children pointed out that they had to rent a private residence because of high hotel prices. Next year she would like to check up in a hotel if the prices are not so high.

Mahdi Noeb is celebrating Novruz in Armenia for the first time. According to tradition, he spent the first day of the holiday in Tehran and on March, 23, came to Yerevan with his friends. According to him, many clubs and cafes were ready to receive guests from Iran and “that was a pleasure”.

He added that many Iranians, especially young people, celebrated Novrus in foreign countries in order to feel more free. “They cannot resist the temptation and take alcohol drinks”, Mahdi says.