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Armenian political forces have not presented ideas in their election programs over developing the country’s aviation sector, member of Travel & Tourist Agents National Association Vanik Vantsyan stated during a discussion held on Saturday.

In Vantsyan’s words, most of the political forces contesting for the April 2 parliamentary elections call for the tourism development, yet they presented plans neither for tourism nor for aviation sector development.  

Vantsyan referred to data presented in the government program proposing to increase the number of tourists visiting Armenia from 1 to 5 million by the year 2020, yet the tourism budget was cut twice to compare with the previous year.  

“We remain uncompetitive in the region. Georgia received its 6 millionth tourist this year, while around one million tourists have visited our country thus far, i our compatriots from Diaspore among them,” noted the speaker.

The expert next pointed out Armenia lacks national carrier, state program for aviation development and ultimately relevant legislation.
 
“Number of meetings were held with the cabinet members to discuss tourism and aviation matters, those yielded no result,” Vantsyan said, adding also the government lacks aviation professionals.