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On May 19, working discussion was held at the initiative of the RA Deputy Speaker Vahe Enfiajyan with participation of representatives of the tour companies for voicing the problems existing in the sphere of tourism in the situation created because of pandemic and for seeking possible solutions and finding them.

The Deputy Speaker of the Parliament has underlined that the tourism is one of the most suffered spheres in the situation created in the whole world. Vahe Enfiajyan, presenting the motivation of organizing the debate noted that during these days he had received numerous letters from the tourist companies, who had appeared in desperate situation, had tried to apply to the affiliated bodies, but in vain.

Enumerating the problems of tourism, the Chairman of Armenian Federation of Tourism Mekhak Apresyan has noted that the companies of the sphere will begin to receive incomes from the April of the next year, with the best forecasts they will receive incomes from September of this year.  And if even they make use of the loans proposed by the Government, and because of not having income they cannot still cover those loans.

According to the speaker, studying the created situation the Federation presented a package of proposals, and some of them have been accepted.

Touching upon numerous problems the representatives of the tour companies have noted that a number of companies have already reduced a great number of employees, most of them are at the edge of bankruptcy, some of them have already been closed. It has been informed that the banks of Armenia, considering the sphere risky, in some cases do not provide loans by mortgage.

The tour operators have expressed their displeasure also with the activity of the RA Tourism Committee, stating that they do not give an answer to any of their questions decently.

According to the participants of the discussion, the inner tourism is also endangered, as there is no control towards the sphere. To the tour operators’ conviction, there is need for tax reforms, which is possible to make by legislative regulation.

Summing up the discussion, Vahe Enfiajyan noted that he would study the voiced problems, discussion would be held, and the relevant protocol would be submitted to the Government. The NA Deputy Speaker assured that he would inform the representatives of the sphere about the versions of the solution for the problems and answered to the questions. “Surely, within the framework of my authorities I will do my best,” the NA Deputy Speaker note