Evaluating The Role Of Sustainable Tourism In Regional Development: Evidence From Armenia

The paper presents the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of tourism role in regional development. Tourism has a crucial role for equal regional development. The Republic of Armenia has 10 regions, all of which are rich with touristic resources: historical-cultural monuments, churches and monasteries, nature, tasty cuisine and wine, hospitable people, nature, curable resources, mineral water, mountains, lakes, canyons, etc. Based on these resources, many types of tourism may be organized and developed in Armenia. The main purpose of the article is to find out the main touristic resources of Armenian 10 regions, find out the main obstacles of tourism development in regions, evaluate the role of tourism in the regions’ social-economic development and to find out innovative solutions for sustainable tourism development in regions. Investigation of the topic in the paper is carried out in the following logical sequence: some literature sources are discussed, the main resources of regions in details are presented, the current situation of tourism in Armenia and the touristic infrastructures in Armenia are analyzed. The main methods used in the article are micro and macro analysis method, historical analysis, statistical methods, correlation analysis, SWOT analysis. The correlation analysis between the volume of tourism services, GDP, GDP per capita, as well as employment indicators is carried out for regions. In order to find out the main obstacles of tourism development in the regions of the RA, SWOT analysis was conducted, which shows the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of tourism development in regions. Based on the analysis, some recommendations are made towards elaborating sustainable tourism development plans for regions, increasing marketing and branding efficiency of regions, improving statistics, infrastructures, expanding touristic routes based on the existing touristic resources of regions, etc.Tourism may contribute to regional development, increase of employment and GDP in regions, decrease of poverty and migration rates. In these terms, local and regional authorities should take all the necessary steps for adopting sustainable tourism policies to regional development. This study may be useful for state, local and regional authorities for elaborating sustainable tourism development policies in regions and communities.