Why do Armenians prefer to rest abroad? (video)
One can afford to spend summer holidays at reasonable prices everywhere except Armenia, say Armenians. “In fact, tour agencies offer best priced holidays and package tours to popular destinations and organizing one’s holiday abroad is much cheaper than in Armenia. Spending holidays in Armenia is a luxury many holidaymakers cannot afford it today. Please, do not think that Armenians do not have a rest in their motherland; simply many do not spend money here as the state pays for them. It also happens,” said one of our respondents. Republican Vladimir Badalyan prefers to spend his holidays in Russia in all seasons of the year. “I have never had the urge to go to travel to European countries,” he said. Aleksan Petrosyan, another Republican lawmaker and the owner of the MAP Company, also likes to have a rest in Armenia. “You get tired of long travels. Besides, they are like robots and you cannot speak to them normally. You do not understand each other and get more tired,” he said. The lawmaker says Armenia is the safest place for him. “People feel safe and free in Armenia. When tourists arrive here they never think of any dangers. You cannot same the same thing about Europe,” Mr Petrosyan said. Republican MP and businessman Hakob Hakobyan has travelled to many European countries. He says there is something in Europe that one cannot find in Armenia. “I am speaking about public order and people’s attitude towards each other,” he said. The recent survey conducted by M-Info Agency shows that 130 of the 200 surveyed people prefer to spend their holidays outside Armenia. “Georgia is the first country in the list because it is not much cheaper and not very far,” said Mariam Mkrtchyan, a representative of the company. “Those you travel to Europe usually prefer to go to Spain, Italy and France,” she added. Mariam studied in China and Thailand and says she cannot imagine her holidays in Armenia. “Now I would prefer to go to Europe,’ she said. Mariam says there are many incomprehensible things in Armenia for foreigners – the loud music of vehicles in Sevan which disturbs holidaymakers.” In other words, tourists in Armenia do not only seek cheap destinations but also ethics.
