NUMBER OF VISITORS TO ARMENIA TO REACH 380,000 IN 2006

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 27 2006

YEREVAN, December 27. /ARKA/. A total of 380,000 tourists will have
visited Armenia by the end of 2006, RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmarityan told reporters.

The Minister reported that a total of 272,499 tourists visited Armenia
in January-September 2006 against 230,390 in the corresponding period
of last year - an 18.3% increase.

Chshmarityan pointed out that the number of in-country tourists
reached 247,962 against 224,926 in 2005 - a 10.2% increase.

The Minister pointed out that this rate of increase will allow Armenia
to host up to 500,000 tourists in 2009.

In this context he pointed out that the intensification of the tourist
sector in Armenia has been one of the Government's priorities in 2006.

Under the program "Tsakhkadzor as a tourist center" Armenia was
introduced to the world as a touristy country by means of clips on
CNN. The Minister pointed out that this policy will be continued
in 2007.

Also, Armenia and the German Lufthansa airline signed a cooperation
agreement envisaging the distribution of booklets on Armenia among
the passengers.