Networking and B2B to foster ecotourism in Armenia

ARCO Researchers were in Armenia to continue the work on fostering the development of ecotourism in the Vayots Dzor region. Under the framework of the Monitoring Service of the project AREVADZOR – Enhancing SME competitiveness through promotion and wider use of sustainable innovative technologies, ARCO’s Local Development Unit, as a partner of PIN S.c.r.l., took part in the conference Networking and B2B  dedicated to establishing connections between Bed & Breakfasts, industry experts and other public and private stakeholders in the tourism and energy sectors.

The AREVADZOR project, co-funded by the European Union under the “Pilot Regional Development Program (PRDP-Armenia)” and Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and implemented by PIN S.c.r.l.,  aims at enhancing the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the ecotourism and renewable energy sectors through the promotion of sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and effective collaboration between local institutions and civil society organizations.

The target region of AREVADZOR Project is in the central part of the Vayots Dzor Marz, that encompasses two of the three State sanctuaries – Yeghegnadzor and Herher sanctuaries, where the communities of Yeghegnadzor, Gladzor, Vernashen, Shatin, Artabuynk, Goghtanik, Karmrashen and Herher live.

ARCO Researcher Leonardo Borsacchi  participated to the panel “Networking and community strategies for tourism” together with Tsovinar Kocharyan (AREVADZOR Mentoring Service), Arus Nersisyan (CNF – Caucasus Nature Fund),  during which he presented the main findings of his research on ecotourism and B2B in Vayots Dzor.

In the open discussion  that was held later to collect feedback among participants,  many Bed & Breakfast owners considerate the idea of future collaboration among local stakeholders, also coordinated in Community Based Tourism projects, a good opportunity to increase their business as well to offer higher quality ecotourism services.

ARCO Researchers have already trained local actors on heritage enhancing and worked on the creation of ecotourism routes, and on the production of a tourist guide to promote the cultural and natural heritage of the Vayots Dzor.

Read more on the work to develop the ectouristic guide of the Vayots Dzor