Armenia approves Strategic Tourism Development Program for 2026-2030

YEREVAN, January 8. /ARKA/. At a meeting on Thursday, the Armenian government approved the Strategic Tourism Development Program for 2026-2030 with the aim of comprehensively addressing the challenges facing the industry and coordinating ongoing reforms, including legislative ones.

Furthermore, the document allows for the coordination and resolution of a number of issues, such as upgrading roads leading to tourist sites, maintaining cleanliness, providing infrastructure for tourists (including restrooms), and others.

Development Guidelines

The strategy envisages defining a vision for tourism development, key priorities and goals, and developing an action plan to transform Armenia's tourism potential into an attractive and competitive tourism industry. The program will serve as a benchmark for the development and implementation of state tourism policy over the next five years, focusing on sustainable tourism development, attracting investment, developing infrastructure, improving service quality, implementing institutional reforms, strengthening Armenia's image as a safe and favorable tourist destination, and increasing its visibility and accessibility.

If properly implemented, the strategic program will ensure 3 million foreign and 4.5 million domestic tourist visits by 2030, with tourist spending reaching $3.8 billion and an additional 20,000 jobs created.

Directions and Objectives

The program outlines three main development areas: cultural, gastronomic (cuisine, wine, and the Armenian brand), and adventure tourism, including winter tourism. It also envisages the development of agritourism, MICE tourism, religious tourism, medical tourism, and health tourism.

The Armenian Minister of Economy noted that the strategic program has identified four main objectives. The first is the economic dimension, which involves fully harnessing the economic potential of tourism, promoting economic progress through tourism reforms.

The second is enhancing international appeal by enhancing Armenia's image as a destination with a focus on hospitality and safety.

The third is ensuring quality, which also includes providing a diverse and exceptional experience.

The fourth is the social dimension, which focuses on increasing the workforce, providing high-quality services, and stimulating tourism education.

According to the Ministry of Economy, 2,263,642 tourists visited Armenia in 2025, a 2.5% increase compared to the previous year and a 19.4% increase compared to 2019. Moreover, 139,933 tourists arrived in December, marking the highest December figure ever recorded.-0-