Integrated Rural Tourism Development Yerevan Armenia 23 December

Integrated Rural Tourism Development Yerevan, Armenia 23 December, 2016

Project Facts Project Goal Create sustainable income-generating opportunities in the rural areas in Armenia as supplemental income source to bring down the level of rural poverty, contribute to equal territorial development and shape conducive environment for rural development. Project Facts Project Target: 60 villages throughout Armenia Project Duration: September 2016 - December 2019 Project Donor: Government of the Russian Federation Project Implementation Agency: UNDP Armenia Implementing Partner: RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development Project Budget: $3, 000

Armenia Tourism Current Condition According to the World Travel and Tourism Council Employment Armenian Tourism Industry in 2015 generated: • 40, 000 direct jobs (≈+14%) / 3. 3% of total employment • 147, 000 wider effects (from investment, supply chain etc) /12. 3% of total investment Money Spend Money spent by foreign visitors (visitor exports) in 2015: • AMD 437. 5 bn ($ 900 mln), about 30% of total exports • The direct contribution to GDP was AMD 183. 4 bn (3. 8% of total GDP) • The total contribution was AMD 660. 9 bn(13. 7% of GDP) • Leisure travel spending was 87%, while business travel 13% • Domestic travel spending generated 13. 4% of direct contribution to GDP, while foreign export was 87% Number of Incoming Tourists 1, 220, 000. 00 1, 200, 000. 00 1, 180, 000. 00 1, 160, 000. 00 1, 140, 000. 00 1, 120, 000. 00 1, 100, 000. 00 1, 080, 000. 00 1, 060, 000. 00 1, 040, 000. 00 2013 2014 2015

Project Components Component 1: Planning Of Sustainable Integrated Rural Tourism The tourism assets of the community will be identified, assessed and prioritized for the further development Component 2: Increase Income Level Developing human resources through sector-specific trainings to address the knowledge gaps and prepare the local communities to effectively manage the tourism enterprises. Component 3: Sustainable Destination Management Establishing institutions to engage the local stakeholders and authorities into management and development of the community as a tourism destination.

Projects Component 1 Country Network Create a network of private companies from tourism sector, supporting UNDP’s initiative, to insure from bottom to top approach in designing and developing pro-business oriented long lasting sustainable rural tourism projects. County Network’s Functions • • Asses the rural destination’s pro-business potential based on demand Propose development of demand based products and services Support in promoting and selling locally and internationally Promote an entrepreneurial spirit and capacity building in the countryside Inventory Methodology for Evaluating the Rural Tourism Potentials: A Tool to Ensure Sustainable Development of Rural Settlements Inventory of Communities Conduct an inventory of touristic resources in the marzes to assess and identify the list of 60 communities with the highest potential for pro-business oriented interventions. The methodology includes five groups of factors: • Nature • Human Made • Human Living Activities • Tourism Services • Village social economic perspective Each Group is assessed according to • Safety • Attractiveness-a. ) Emotional b. )Uniqueness c. ) Long-termism • Access • Long term potential • Short term potential

Inventory Timeframe Number of villages / Region Goal First Stage • • 2 regions 184 villages Jan Feb Conduct an inventory of Tavush + Lori Select 12 villages March Apr May Second Stage • • 8 regions 769 villages June July Goal • Select 48 villages Totally Goal • 10 regions • Select 60 villages • 950 villages +August

Partnership Synergies Bridge-Network of private companies State Committee for Tourism 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Apaga Tour Armenia Travel+M Avarayr Gardman Tour Hyur Service Levon Travel Lore Travel Nueva Vista Rumea Temping Trips Club Saberatours-Sevan Sidon Travel Spinaker Sputnik Vis-à-Vis Tour Yerevan Travel 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 17 18 Amistad Tour Arara Tour 35 36 Elitar Tatev T. Travelon Unona Tour ABIC Fun Tour Tasty Tour Green way Visit Armenia El Tour First Travel Go 2 Armenia Bogema Land Armintour Arevi Adventure Armenian Adventure Travel Association Areni Fest Foundation

Research and Development Centres Involve academia into the research and development of the tourism sector in their respective marzes. Market Armenia Innovative Challenge Scheme Projects Involve private sector into the partnership projects aiming to solve the challenges mutually to deliver pro-business solutions for the communities. Pro-Business Oriented Intervention Projects Design and develop two types of touristic products based on the selected community resources: extended tours and branded tours. Rural Tourism Service Providers Start Me Up Support youth to partner with the private sector to incubate tourism related sustainable projects. Regional Hub Youth Career Trail Create opportunities for the youth to get experience in Yerevan based companies. Yerevan Based Tourism Companies Projects for Component 2

Pro-Business Oriented Projects Farm staying /Well Being Trails Ethno/Heritage/Cultural Villages Sport Tourism Adventure Tourism

Objectives for 2017 Projects Objectives for 2017 Country network 30 companies Inventory of Villages 10 Marzes Youth Career Trail 2 Marzes (Tavush + Lori) (20 participants) Start Me Up 2 projects 2 marzes (Tavush + Lori) Research and Development Centres 2 marzes (Tavush + Lori) Armenia Innovative Challenge Scheme Projects (Public Partner Projects) 2 projects in 2 marzes (Tavush + Lori) Direct Intervention Projects And DMOs 12 communities (Tavush + Lori) Target Communities • Communities of “Integrated Support to Rural Development: Building Resilient Communities Project” • Remote Communities • Cluster of Communities

Schedule of Activities for 2017 Projects Country Network Inventory of Communities Intervention Projects Tavush + Lori (12) Research & Development Centers Youth Career Trail (10+10) Start Me Up (2 projects) Armenia Innovative Challenges Scheme Projects (2 projects) Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Tavush+Lori 8 other marzes Marzes 6 5 Intervention Distribution 4 3 2 1 0 2017 2018 2019

Project Total Budget 2016 -2019 Revised Total Budget Distribution per Component 1 Office Support 2016 -2019 10% Total Budget Consumption per Year 14% 30% Component 3 13% 46% 24% 1% 0% 10% 2019 2018 30% 2017 2016 40% Component 2 63% 50% Component 1 Component 2 Component 3 Office Support Budget distribution per Component 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Component 1 Component 2 Component 3 Infrustructure Office Support Capacity Total 84% to be used to Rehabilitate community infrastructure

Progress February 2017 Definitions Team 1 Team 2 Started In the Process of development Tavush ATS Inventory R&D Networks Bridge Lori Diaspora DMO PR Print PD Recruitment Web Recruitment Blog Event