The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the global tourism industry in 2020 with an estimated 74% decline in travel compared to the previous year. Tourism is a key sector of Armenia’s economy, and the country was hit particularly hard by the pandemic and the 2020 Artsakh War. In 2022, before the onset of the tourism season, Armenia’s government abolished its pandemic-related restrictions which saw the number of tourists exceeding the amount compared to the past two years. Most of the issues that the tourism industry faces in Armenia today, however, are linked to the overall challenges it faces. A prosperous, developed and safe Armenia will create the necessary environment for tourism to flourish as well. This month’s magazine issue entitled “Tourism” features articles that look at the efforts to develop tourism in Armenia despite persistent infrastructure, economic and security challenges; the rise of domestic tourism; the potential of B&Bs and guest houses and strategies for diversifying Armenia’s tourism industry.

Illustration by Harut Tumaghyan.