All Roads Lead to Armenia: New Travel Opportunities

Imagine driving out of a capital city on a scenic route for 1 or 2 hours to visit a medieval monastery from which vistas of beautiful natural landscapes open up to leave you breathless. Now imagine returning to the capital that same night to enjoy a delicious cocktail at a high-end bar while enjoying finger-licking cuisine, both traditional and modern.

In a nutshell, this is what Armenia offers tourists. And that’s putting things mildly! This ancient yet small country in the Caucasus highlands is here to cater to every type of tourist, from those who enjoy the luxurious experience to those who prefer roughing it out on hiking trails like the Dilijan National Park. Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city in its own right, with a rich history and culture that spans thousands of years. For an urban tourist, it is the place to be. You can visit the Republic Square, the Opera House, and the Cascade complex among other popular hotspots. On the other side of the spectrum are the ancient monasteries and churches, many being UNESCO World Heritage sites.

For tourists who are more into the culinary arts, Armenia has a long history of wine production and traditional cuisine, with the country having a growing wine tourism industry as well as a wide array of eateries that offer modern twists on ancient recipes. And this is just the tip of the Armenian iceberg.

And guess what? Traveling to Armenia just got easier!

New Flights, New Opportunities

After its stint against the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns, Armenia tourism has been making a slow yet steady comeback. Barring December, the previous year saw a total of 1,540,000 tourists visit Armenia, predominantly from neighboring countries, the US, Germany and other European countries. This was an amazing figure that is projected to grow in 2023, according to Sisian Boghossian, head of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. Even Forbes listed Armenia on its list of Best Places to Travel in 2023.

Understandably, flights to and from Armenia have been increasing as a result of this. Armenia has several airports of its own that offer both domestic and international flights, in particular the Zvartnots International Airport. It has been gaining momentum thanks to the boost in tourism, with the culmination of this being Fly Arna, a low-cost airline which is the result of a collaboration between Air Arabia, an Emirates low-cost airline, and the Armenia National Interests Fund which is owned by the Armenian government. The airline added its first aircraft and earned its Air Operator's Certificate in May 2022, choosing the Airbus A320 model as its vessel. Currently, flights are taking place to Egypt and Russia, with flights to Kuwait and Beirut coming soon. In fact, Fly Arna means to act as a connective tissue between Armenia and Middle Eastern countries.

In addition to Fly Arna, many other airlines have announced flights (most quite affordable) to and from Armenia, including but not limited to the following:

• Aegean Airlines

• Air Moldova

• airBaltic

• Eurowings

• Fly Arystan

• Fly One

• Shirak Avia

• Transavia

• Wizz Air

Well-known airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and others are also active in Armenia. This further goes to show that new opportunities to visit Armenia are being formed, which will in turn drive the wheels of the tourism industry even more.

Armenia.Travel and The Hidden Track

Concurrent with international flights increasing, The Republic of Armenia's Ministry of Economy's Tourism Committee began taking initiative and in May 2022, unveiled a new international brand for Armenia as a top travel destination. This is called Armenia.Travel, which represents Armenia's history, nature, and untamed landscapes along with its unforgettable hospitality and thriving food and beverage industries, all of which are accessible for a reasonable price.

Catering to tourists of every taste, the Tourism Committee chose “The Hidden Track” as Armenia.Travel’s tagline to further express Armenia as an undiscovered touristic gem. This was certainly one of the biggest steps taken by the Armenian government to incite interest in tourism, which accounts for a significant revenue within the country.

Tis the Season!

Armenia is predominantly known as a summer country when it comes to tourism. However, due to recent developments, winter is also gaining popularity in the mountainous highlands. Multiple resorts being constructed in Dilijan, Gyumri, and Tsaghkadzor are fast on track on becoming winter tourist spots, even though locals have been using them for this purpose for many years.

Land-Based Travel

Most tourists visit Armenia via air. However, there are also signs of more unconventional travel methods which bring equally unconventional tourists to the country. The most apparent of these is tourists traveling to Armenia with bikes. Cyclists can be seen often in the country, which makes sense as the landscape makes for perfect cycling experiences.

More to Come

It is a given that Armenia is becoming a touristic hotspot within the region where it is located. The Tourist Committee seems to be on the right track, with a 5-year plan rolled out which is to include strategies planned to increase tourism not just in summer, but also every season. Armenians being one of the most hospitable people in the world is just the perfect cherry on top! After all, the country has always been part of the Silk Road, and it is only natural for it to receive visitors, and treat them well!