Armenia’s Tourism Competitiveness: Exploring Links with Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

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YEREVAN, Armenia – On July 15, 2015 the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, in cooperation with EV Consulting, initiated a roundtable discussion on the link between Armenia’s tourism competitiveness and its natural resources and environmental sustainability. Over 20 professionals from the fields of tourism, economic and regional development, government policy, NGOs, and industry participated in the discussion.

The overall goal of the roundtable was to identify paths that key stakeholders can pursue to improve Armenia’s standing in global tourism and travel ranking. The impetus behind organizing this roundtable discussion was the 2015 Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum. In this report, Armenia ranked 89 out of 141, placing it lower than Georgia and Azerbaijan. Two of the fourteen factors used in determining a country’s tourism and travel competitiveness are related to natural resources and environmental sustainability.  Armenia has ranked low in both.

Participants identified areas in which steps can be taken collaboratively to improve reporting, dissemination of information, and collection of information on Armenia’s tourism competitiveness and its ecological assets and sustainability. 

The Armenian contribution to the global competitiveness report was prepared by EV Consulting. The complete 2015 Travel and Tourism Report can be accessed here and the overview of the key ranking factors here.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE) is a research center of the American University of Armenia. AUA ACE promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. AUA ACE’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.