Azerbaijan’s steps actually benefit Nagorno-Karabakh tourist industry – official

The number of tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh is steadily increasing, with a 20% increase recorded in the first half of this year as compared with the first half of last year, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Sergey Shahverdyan told Tert.am.

“During the last six months we recorded a 120% increase as compared with the last seven years, and a 20% increase this year,” he said.

Mr Sharverdyan said that by tourists the mean only foreign tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh.

“That is, Armenia’s citizens, diasporic Armenians with Armenian passports are not included. Karabakh is of unique interest not only to Armenians,” the official said.

On the other hand, many more tourists from Armenia are visiting Nagorno-Karabakh, which is the result of consistent work.

“We continue our policy to ensure an increase in the number of tourists. We continue improving places of interest,” Mr Shahverdyan said.

Speaking of Azerbaijani propaganda, particularly of its blacklisting tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh, the official said it does not affect tourists’ desire to visit Artsakh.

“Tourism is most sensitive, and any factor can play a role. As to Azerbaijan’s ‘black list’, I do not think it can affect tourists’ desire to visit Arstakh. We are taking steps to turn Azerbaijan’s propaganda into a benefit to Nagorno-Karabakh’s tourist industry. We are doing it during international exhibitions.”

Forests, monuments, cuisine and people are of interests to tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh.

“This is a unified brand and you cannot say who likes what more,” Mr Shaverdyan said.

As regards the price policy, the official said that the price policy in Armenia’s tourism sector is not essentially different from other countries’ policy, except for air communication.

“That is the infrastructures enable any tourists to visit Karabakh.”

Asked about the quality of roads and the possibility of air communication promoting the development of tourism in Nagorno-Karabakh, Mr Shaverdyan said:

“Of course, air communication would essentially promote the development of tourism. But we should not focus on this. We have found a different solution. You know that a Stepanakert-Sotk highway is under construction, which is a much shorter way for tourists visiting Artsakh.”

Summer is not an end of the tourist season in Artsakh.

“The season lasts from April to October,” Mr Shaverdyan said.