Latest news with #medicalTourism
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Armenia charts responsible tourism growth, eyes investments
Armenia is positioning tourism as a key pillar of economic development, with plans to expand infrastructure, diversify source markets, and promote sustainable practices, according to the Chairman of Armenia's Tourism Committee. 'Our population is only 3 million but we have big plans to grow tourism,' Lusine Gevorgyan told Zawya Projects, adding that the country welcomed 2.2 million international tourists in 2023. She noted that efforts are underway to upgrade travel infrastructure and enhance service quality across the sector. 'Our focus is not on mass tourism, but rather on attracting conscious travellers who value Armenia's natural and cultural assets,' Gevorgyan said. In addition to ATM 2025 in Dubai last month, the country has participated in global expos such as FITUR in Madrid and ITB Berlin to promote tourism. At ITB Berlin, Armenia received recognition as the Best Adventure Destination for 2025 at ITB. Beyond adventure travel, Armenia is leveraging its Christian heritage, gastronomy, and traditional crafts to attract visitors. It is also promoting medical tourism by highlighting the affordability and quality of care available in local clinics. With festivals throughout the year, the tourism committee has set its sights on festival tourism. 'The committee is supporting 12 festivals this year, which includes the Yerevan Wine Festival which attracted more than 100,000 people last year,' Gevorgyan said. While Russia is the key source market, accounting for 40 percent of tourist, last year saw increase in tourist numbers from France, Germany, and the GCC countries. Engagement is expanding with India, Kazakhstan, and China, with steps toward easing visa procedures and strengthening diplomatic ties. To attract foreign investment, the government has introduced infrastructure support in terms of roads, power and water and cashback incentives for qualified tourism developments. Successful projects such as the Myler Winter Resort in Aragats demonstrate investor interest, the chairman said. With rising tourist arrivals, workforce training is a priority, according to the Chairman. 'Two new hospitality schools are scheduled to open in 2024 in Dilijan and Gyumri. The tourism committee will make regional training programmes will cover service, sustainability, and hospitality education programmes in 10 regions,' she noted. Looking ahead, the Tourism Strategy 2026–2030, which is currently being prepared, will guide long-term sector development. The plan includes sustainable tourism, targeted market expansion in Asia and the Middle East, and popular destinations modeled on global benchmarks like Dubai. 'A UAE-Armenia investment forum is scheduled for later this year in Yerevan,' she disclosed. Gevorgyan emphasised Armenia's commitment to preserving the environment and local culture. Steps include training licensed guides, sensitising hotels and businesses to importance of conservation, promoting waste management, encouraging eco-accommodations, and integrating tourism into community-based development. 'We aim to grow tourism responsibly—supporting the economy while safeguarding Armenia's heritage,' the chairman concluded. (Writing by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EMV's tourism initiatives enhance Jordan's status as global destination
AMMAN — The Economic Modernisation Vision's (EMV) economic engine of "Jordan, a Global Destination" includes a number of "qualitative" tourism initiatives that aim to enhance competitiveness and achieve a sustainable growth, according to an official statement. The tourism sector is considered one of the "largest" tributaries of the Kingdom's economy, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The Kingdom enjoys "unique" attractions in the religious, historical, and nature-based fields, such as Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, the Baptism Site, Machaerus, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Ahlu Al Kahf) and the Husseini Mosque, in addition to adventure tourism such as diving and water sports sites. Jordan enjoys a "leading" position in the fast-growing medical tourism, and it meets the needs of tourists who are looking for "special" experiences in archaeological, nature and health tourism. The top tourism initiatives under the EMV aim at developing, managing and preserving tourist sites and facilities, improving various types of tourism products, activating the tourism investment initiative, and facilitating travel to and within Jordan, as well as launching a cost competitiveness initiative and providing services at "reasonable" prices. The initiatives also include establishing a programme for skill development, launching the "digital tourist initiative", updating the sector's data to facilitate decision-making, enhance tourism marketing, linking Jordan to wider network of countries, improving tourism-related regulations and simplifying governmental procedures. The Jordan Global Destination Engine comprises two sectors encompassing 25 initiatives, according to Petra. Tourism revenue surged to $2.4 billion in the first third of 2025, marking a 15.3 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according the data from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ). According to the monthly report issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan welcomed about 2.1 million international tourists in the first four months of 2025, marking a 19 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. This growth is attributed to promotional campaigns that target global markets, in addition to resuming direct flights and low-cost airlines. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
EMV's tourism initiatives enhance Jordan's status as global destination
The tourism sector is considered one of the 'largest' tributaries of the Kingdom's economy (JT file) AMMAN — The Economic Modernisation Vision's (EMV) economic engine of "Jordan, a Global Destination" includes a number of "qualitative" tourism initiatives that aim to enhance competitiveness and achieve a sustainable growth, according to an official statement. The tourism sector is considered one of the "largest" tributaries of the Kingdom's economy, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The Kingdom enjoys "unique" attractions in the religious, historical, and nature-based fields, such as Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, the Baptism Site, Machaerus, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Ahlu Al Kahf) and the Husseini Mosque, in addition to adventure tourism such as diving and water sports sites. Jordan enjoys a "leading" position in the fast-growing medical tourism, and it meets the needs of tourists who are looking for "special" experiences in archaeological, nature and health tourism. The top tourism initiatives under the EMV aim at developing, managing and preserving tourist sites and facilities, improving various types of tourism products, activating the tourism investment initiative, and facilitating travel to and within Jordan, as well as launching a cost competitiveness initiative and providing services at "reasonable" prices. The initiatives also include establishing a programme for skill development, launching the "digital tourist initiative", updating the sector's data to facilitate decision-making, enhance tourism marketing, linking Jordan to wider network of countries, improving tourism-related regulations and simplifying governmental procedures. The Jordan Global Destination Engine comprises two sectors encompassing 25 initiatives, according to Petra. Tourism revenue surged to $2.4 billion in the first third of 2025, marking a 15.3 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according the data from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ). According to the monthly report issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan welcomed about 2.1 million international tourists in the first four months of 2025, marking a 19 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. This growth is attributed to promotional campaigns that target global markets, in addition to resuming direct flights and low-cost airlines.
