The number of the Italian tourists in Armenia has almost tripled.

On March 20 Armenian Ambassador to Italia Ruben Karapetyan met with Piero Gnudi, Italian Minister for Regional Affairs, Tourism and Sport. Issues related to expansion of Armenian-Italian cooperation in relevant spheres were discussed at the meeting, press service of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Armenia informed.

The ambassador told Minister Piero Gnudi that after establishment of direct flights between the two countries in 2009, the volumes of tourism have considerably increased. The number of the Italian tourists in Armenia has almost tripled making the 18% of all the tourists of Armenia in 2011.

The ambassador said that 2 Armenian-Italian forums have been organized recently in Venice and Cagliari under the patronage of the Armenian Embassy in Italy. He also noted that within the frameworks of "From San Lazzaro (Surp Ghazar) to Armenia" project, a business forum under the heading of "Armenia: Opportunities for Tourism Development" is intended to conduct March 30 in Yerevan.

The parties highlighted Armenia''s participation in 15th international archeological tourism exhibition due in November in Paestum, Italy, with a status of an honorary guest. The interlocutors discussed the opportunities of formation of a judicial-contractual field in the sphere of tourism.

At the meeting importance was attached to expansion of the decentralized cooperation between cities of Armenia and Italy. The current opportunities for cooperation were emphasized as well. In this regard Ruben Karapetyan invited the Italian Minister to visit Armenia for watching Armenia-Italy match to be held in October 9 in Yerevan.