Vanadzor-Pambak, 09 September 2018 – ‘’Discover Lori’’ event officially marked the opening of the Visitor Information Center, Tourism Research and Development Center in the city of Vanadzor, as well as “'Fairy Tale” house in Pambak community. The event was organized in the framework of “Integrated Rural Tourism Development” (IRTD) project, funded by the Russian Federation and implemented by UNDP in Armenia, in close partnership with the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, Lori Governor’s Office, and the State Tourism Committee of Armenia.

The event was attended by Davit Gevorgyan, RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, Dmitry Mariyasin, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Armenia, Leonid Shebarshin, Third Secretary at the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Armenia, Hrant Margaryan, Governor of Lori region, and Hripsime Grigoryan, Chairman of the State Tourism Committee of Armenia.

“Today is a very important day for all of us, as the opening of the Information Center, R&D Center and ‘’Fairy Tale’’ house is of a great strategic importance for the country, as they all contribute to the development of tourism in Lori region,” said Davit Gevorgyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, in his opening remarks.

“I would like to thank all of our partners for their contribution and challenging work. Special thanks to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, Governor’s Office of Lori region, and the State Tourism Committee of Armenia and, of course, our donor Russian Federation. As a result of the joint work we now have three touristic spots in Lori region that will contribute to the equal development of the remote areas in the region,” said Dmitry Mariyasin, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Armenia.

“I am glad to be here today and witness the openings of three projects in Lori region. I am more than convinced that these products will make Lori a great touristic destination,” said Leonid Shebarshin, third Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Armenia.

“Today tourism development is one of the most important issues in Armenia, and I am very happy that we are all here in Lori working hard to create fascinating products for tourists and local people,’’ said Hripsime Grigoryan, Chairman of the State Tourism Committee of Armenia.

The IRTD project offers an intervention strategy for the development of rural tourism in Armenia with the objective of creating sustainable income-generating opportunities as supplemental income source to bring down the level of rural poverty, contribute to equal territorial development and shape conducive environment for rural development. The concept applies integrated approach targeting strong local social networks that explicitly link local actors for the purpose of jointly promoting and maintaining the economic, social, cultural, natural, and human resources of the localities.

At the end of the event, in Pambak community, at the ‘’Fairy Tale’’ house, all the guests had chance to try Armenian traditional dishes and enjoy folk concert by Armen Qarayan, storyteller from Alaverdi, folk groups from Lernapat community, Lithuania, Georgia, and Iran.

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UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations UNDP in Armenia was established in March 1993 and supports the government in meeting its development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.