The official opening of the 8th International Annual Tourism Fair “Country of Talking Stones” CTS'2008 took place on November 7, 2008 at 12:30pm at the “Moscow” cinema theatre in Yerevan, Armenia.
The Fair was officially opened by Nerses Yeritsyan, Minister of Economy of The Republic of Armenia, Ara Petrosyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of The Republic of Armenia, Simon Khachaturyan, President of Armenian Association of Travel Agents, Yeghishe Tanashyan, President of Armenian Chapter of ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) and Hayley Alexander, Country Director of USAID/CAPS project. Ambassadors and consular officers of several countries, representatives of International organizations and NGOs, foreign tour operators and other honorable guests were present at the opening ceremony.
CTS’2008 is a remarkable international event, which in this year again was implemented under the auspices of RA Ministry of Economy, Armenian Association of Travel Agents (AATA) and Armenian Chapter of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) with the support of USAID “Competitive Armenian Private Sector” project. The general sponsor of the Fair is Yerevan Brandy Company; sponsors are Czech Airlines, Best Western Congress Hotel and Armenian Hotel Association.
The Fair has the following crucial objectives:
1. Foster the incoming and regional tourism through organizing a cognitive tour for foreign tour-operators within the framework of the Fair (Finland, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Turkey, Mountainous Kharabakh);
2. Foster the domestic (marz) tourism;
3. Inform the society, potential customers, specialists, officials and other stakeholders about the tourism development trends and set up a forum for all the stakeholders of tourism sector;
4. Give the Armenian population an opportunity to plan their vocation in affordable and quality manner.
The Fair gives a unique opportunity for exchange of useful information and experience; establishment of business relations by means of goods marketing; discussion of various issues concerning the tourism clusters, as well as presenting to the society the products and services concerning the tourism.
47 organizations were exhibited at the CTS’2007 fair last year. This year the number of exhibitors at CTS’2008 has been increased up to 64 organizations, including 13 travel agencies and operators, 1 air company, 17 hotel complexes and resort houses, 2 insurance companies, 13 public and non-governmental organizations, 3 tourism publications, 1 information agency, 3 educational institutions, 8 restaurants, 2 organizations supporting tourism sector and 1 leading brandy and wine producer participated to CTS’2008 Fair. There were individual stands of Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Mountainous Kharabakh and the following marzes of Armenia – Kotayk, Shirak and Vayots Dzor.
The visitors had a unique opportunity to get familiar with the possibilities of incoming and outgoing tourism and planning their vacation in Armenia and abroad.
The participants had an opportunity to show and sell their products and services to the potential customers.