Page "Economy of Armenia" Paragraph 46

However, according to private tour operators and other individuals familiar with the country ’ s tourism industry, government claims that hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists visit Armenia each year are inflated.

Official statistics show that as many 575, 000 tourists visited Armenia from abroad in 2009 ; the government stated earlier in 2010 that the figure will surpass 620, 000 in 2010.

However, data from the National Statistical Service shows that there were only 65, 000 foreigners staying in Armenian hotels in 2009.

Ara Vartanian, the chairman of the Armenian Trade and Industry Chamber, thinks that this measure is a far more objective indicator of the tourist influx into the country.