Armenia: Yerevan Allocates $20 Million to Attract Tourists

The Armenian government has approved a $20-million tourism development plan in a bid to diversify the country's economy.

Officials from the Armenian Ministry of Economy say the money will be spent on developing hospitality infrastructure, holding festivals and sprucing up key tourism sites, including the Garni temple complex and Geghard monastery, the Panorama news website reported February 11.

Officials hope that 650,000 tourists will visit Armenia this year, a figure that would represent 10 percent growth over the number of visitors in 2009. About 60 percent of tourists in 2009 were members of the Armenian Diaspora.