From which countries and for which purposes tourists have visited Armenia in 2016?

Based on expert assessments developed as a result of surveys and reports 1 1 259 657 tourists have visited to the Republic of Armenia in the period of January-December 2016.

Compared with the same period of 2015 the index recorded growth by 5.7%.

Greater part of tourists—1 084 933 stayed in houses of relatives or friends, rented apartments and similar places. 174 724 people stayed in hotels.

In the period of the previous year the highest growth—17% was recorded among tourists visiting Armenia for recreation and leisure purposes, the share comprises 49.8% of total number. 31.9% of tourists visited Armenia for business purposes (number of business visits has grown by 3.2%).

Visits to Armenia for treatment purposes reduced by 30% (specific gravity comprises 0.3%), and the number of visitors for education purposes increased 7 times (specific gravity comprises less than 0.1%).

As for geographical distribution of tourists, based on information provided by hotel services 25.7% of tourists visiting Armenia in the period of January-December 2016 were from CIS countries, 25.8%—from EU member countries, and 48.5%—from other countries.

The highest growth was recorded by tourists visiting from Iran—79.7%, thus comprising 17% of total (10% in 2015). Tourists from Russia visit Armenia the most. Although the number of visits from Russia in 2016 has grown by 4.2%, Russia’s specific gravity among tourists visiting Armenia has reduced from 22.1% to 21.7%. It’s conditioned by sharp number of visits paid from Iran.