UN Tourism has added to its growing portfolio of investment guidelines with a new edition focused on the potential of Armenia.
"Tourism Doing Business – Investing in Armenia" guides investors and tourism professionals seeking in-depth knowledge about Armenia's tourism sector. It allows them to make informed decisions by showcasing Armenia's unique cultural heritage, robust economic growth, and supportive business environment.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "Armenia is a rising tourism destination. At the same time, its dedication to economic reforms, infrastructure development, and the promotion of foreign direct investment has positioned it as the fastest-growing economy in Europe. These new Guidelines underscore Armenia's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for international capital and showcase the opportunities the country's tourism sector offers to investors everywhere."
These new Guidelines underscore Armenia's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for international capital and showcase the opportunities the country’s tourism sector offers to investors everywhere
Over recent years, Armenia has enjoyed notable growth as a tourist destination. International tourist to the country reached 2.3 million in 2023, a 22.3% increase from 2019. This growth significantly outpaces the regional average in Central and Eastern Europe. Additionally, international tourism receipts in Armenia reached USD 3 billion in 2023, a 97% increase on 2019. The Guidelines explore the factors that help make Armenia such an attractive destination for both tourists and investors, including:
UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona says: "Recent years have seen Armenia exhibit remarkable economic resilience and growth. International tourist arrivals are up almost 25% on pre-pandemic levels, while the arrival of investments across all sectors further illustrates the confidence in Armenia's tourism potential. We are proud to be working with Armenia to showcase it as an investment destination through these latest Guidelines from UN Tourism."
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows totalled close to USD 1 billion in 2022, the highest on record. This trend continued into 2023, with FDI totaling USD 443 million according to UNCTAD. Furthermore, recent updates from Armenian authorities suggest that the figure for 2023 is around USD 580 million, reflecting growing international confidence in Armenia's market.
The new Guidelines analyse the factors contributing to make Armenia, and its tourism sector, an attractive proposition for foreign investors, most notably:
UN Tourism has agreed to work with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan to foster the development of sustainable tourism in the country.
On an official visit, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololkiashvili met with the President of Kazakhstan, His Excellency, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to discuss avenues for closer collaboration around shared goals.
In the framework of his visit to Astana, the Secretary-General participated in a round table hosted by the President's Affairs office which brought together country's tourism stakeholders to discuss the current state of Kazakhstan's tourism sector, its challenges and strategic priorities. A Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports sets out key areas for collaboration to develop tourism in an inclusive and sustainable way.
UN Tourism is proud to work with the Republic of Kazakhstan to harness the unparalleled power of sustainable tourism to drive growth and support development
Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: "UN Tourism is proud to work with the Republic of Kazakhstan to harness the unparalleled power of sustainable tourism to drive growth and support development. By working together to promote innovation and drive investments into the sector, we can create many new jobs, support businesses of all sizes and preserve and promote at the same time Kazakhstan's rich heritage, environment and culture."
Alongside the meeting with President Tokayev, the UN Tourism delegation also held high-level talks with both the Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov, and the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev. Discussions focused on the implementation of the MoU signed between the two parties, recognizing the importance of strengthening the tourism sector across the Republic.
Under the terms of the MoU, UN Tourism will cooperate with the Ministry in the following areas:
On the occasion of the official visit to Kazakhstan, the UN Tourism leadership was invited to the opening of the 5th World Nomad Games. The international competition aims to uphold nomad traditions and serves as a tourist attraction but also a means of preserving unique cultural heritage. The World Nomad Games are included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
UN Tourism brought its expertise to the Bled Strategic Forum, highlighting the essential role of investments and innovation as drivers of a better future, while also engaging in an official visit to the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport to strengthen collaboration.
The Forum serves is recognized as the top international conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe, offering a platform to explore ideas on modern society and its future. Joining leading public and private sector policymakers and thinkers at the event, UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona made clear how the sector can continue to adapt and so drive inclusive and sustainable development, both across the region and globally.
As part of a special panel discussion on the power of data in tourism transformation, Ms Bayona highlighted the importance of rethinking education and training as a key step towards transforming the sector. "By equipping the workforce with digital skills, we can address challenges such as seasonality and overcrowding, while fostering smart, sustainable destinations," she said.
At the same time, UN Tourism also made clear the need for more and better-targeted investments into the sector, noting that this is already driving positive transformation and supporting the shift towards greater sustainability. Over the past five years alone, $48 billion in venture capital has been invested in tourism technology. "Together, innovation and education have the power to transform the industry," Ms Bayona concluded.
Within the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum UN Tourism commended Slovenia for its work promoting sustainable tourism as well as its remarkable record of attracting investments into the sector. The possibilities for further collaborations informed UN Tourism's meeting with the country's Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport Matjaž Han, most notably shared plans to boost private investments.
During the visit to the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport ,the UN Tourism delegation also advanced ideas for closer collaboration in the field of tourism education. A meeting with the Dean and other key academic staff of the School of Economics and Business of the University of Ljubljana explored the possibility of shared initiatives through the UN Tourism Online Academy, as well as the chance to offer Slovenian students international experience, whether through research placements and internships or online courses.
The UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism is set to return to focus on traditions and cultural heritage. The eighth edition of the Conference, co-hosted by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, will be held in Yerevan (11-13 September 2024).
This year's conference will focus on the theme "Heritage in Every Bottle: Crafting Authentic Wine Tourism Experiences," highlighting the importance of developing strategies that both preserve cultural traditions and benefit local communities. A key focus will be on reviving traditions in the evolving landscape of wine tourism, balancing modernization with cultural heritage.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "Wine tourism continues to grow, both in popularity with tourists and as a pillar of rural growth and protector of cultural heritage. The Global Conference on Wine Tourism will once again bring together the most exciting leaders of the sector, and I look forward to welcoming them all to Yerevan, Armenia."
The Global Conference on Wine Tourism will once again bring together the most exciting leaders of the sector, and I look forward to welcoming them all to Yerevan, Armenia
"Armenia is honored to host the 8th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism," stated Susanna Hakobyan, Acting Head of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Armenia. "With our millennia-old winemaking tradition and rich cultural heritage, Armenia is uniquely positioned to showcase its innovative practices and exceptional wine culture. This conference offers a unique platform for collaboration, learning, and advancing the global discourse on wine tourism."
The conference will showcase successful initiatives and provide a platform for exchanging expertise and developing innovative projects. Representatives from iconic wine regions, including the Strada del Barolo (Italy); Bourgogne (France), and Mendoza (Argentina), will present examples of best practices. Iter Vitis - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, will also share insights from a network perspective.
Participants will explore strategies for attracting and engaging visitors, as well as fostering coordinated efforts among stakeholders to effectively promote wine routes and experiences and maximize their positive impact on local economies and communities.
The conference will feature prominent industry leaders, such Catena Zapata, named World's Best Winery for 2023. Attendees will be able to attend masterclasses at renowned Armenian wineries, such as the historic Areni-1 cave, the oldest known winery in the world. Topics will range from the application of e-commerce strategies in wine tourism to the integration of technology in sustainable wine tourism.
Discussions will also focus on developing effective communication strategies to reach a global audience. Digitalization expert Jochen Heussner (Italy) will engage in discussions with renowned wine tourism specialists, including Alder Yarrow, an acclaimed wine writer (USA), Paul Wagner, from the Culinary Institute of America and Napa Valley College (USA), and Gergely Szolnoki, a Professor of Market Research at Geisenheim University (Germany).
2024
MCI Tourism
Tyrol, Austria
"The Tirolean Way", Tyrol's tourism strategy, developed along with MCI Tourism is Tyrol's tourism strategy as of June 2021. The Tyrolean Sustainable Tourism Observatory (TYSTO) is hosted by MCI Tourism, a long-standing strategic partner of the Tyrolean Provincial Government's Tourism Department in the development of regional tourism strategies. The Ministry of Tourism, as well as the the Tyrolean Provincial Government's Tourism Department support the implementation of TYSTO as a logical consequence of the years-long cooperation for sustainable tourism development in Tyrol.
of monitoring area
inhabitants
International (tourism year 2022-2023)
Domestic (tourism year 2022-2023)
*hotels and other establishment
Winter season
Summer season
MISSION
The Observatory, together with its partners, will initiate lighthouse projects that balance economic viability, ecological protection and social welfare. Through a dashboard, the outcome of sustainability initiatives of the whole sector covering all 34 Tyrolean tourism regions based on the SDGs and other national and international indicators sets will be displayed and communicated as best practices to help small-scale Tyrolean tourism enterprises and organizations in their transformation process towards becoming carbon-neutral, net-zero and ultimately climate positive.
As of 2022 the Tyrolean Tourism Associations are legally obliged to submit an annual sustainability report starting from 2023 which serves as a fundament for TYSTO’s sustainability monitoring. Based on multiple international, national and regional indicator sets (including INSTO), a framework with nine fields of action has been developed that reflects Tyrol’s priorities and needs for sustainability monitoring. These nine fields of action the Tyrolean Tourism Associations are monitoring and reporting on cover all three dimensions of sustainability.
Energy management:
Greenhouse gas emissions (Co2e) from accommodation/ gastronomy;
Greenhouse gas emissions (Co2e) from leisure facilities;
Choice of transportation on site.
Climate Action:
Land use in % of the total area and in % of the permanent settlement area;
Alpine pasture forage areas in ha and in % of the agricultural area;
Protected areas in % of the total area.
Employment:
Number of people employed in accommodation and food services.
Local Satisfaction:
Tourism intensity.
Destination economic benefit and tourism seasonality:
Number of beds summer/winter;
Arrivals tourism year/summer/winter;
Forecast turnover/bed Tourism year.
Governance:
Appointed Sustainability Coordinators covering all Tyrolean Tourism Associations;
Regional sustainability strategies developed and implemented by all Tyrolean Tourism Associations (incl. reporting);
Sustainability Coordinator exchange meetings
Source: Province of Tirol et al. (Ed.). The Tirolean Way - perspectives for the responsible development of tourism (2021), p.2.
