ArmInfo. The official opening of the Hospitality Investment Forum Yerevan 2026 (HIF) took place in Yerevan, bringing together over 1,000 participants from more than 28 countries.
The forum was opened by Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, who emphasized that this event is an important platform for launching new investment initiatives, forming partnerships, and developing long-term cooperation.
He noted that a safe environment, natural beauty, abundant housing resources, and a developed service sector create competitive advantages and enhance the country's attractiveness for both tourists and investors.
Papoyan noted that these positive trends are also reflected in statistics. The minister recalled that approximately 825,000 tourists visited the country in the first five months of 2026.
At the same time, he stated that the government is actively collaborating with international and regional airlines to launch new flights. "Accessibility is the main driving force, both in terms of investment activity and tourist influx," the Minister of Economy emphasized.
Noting that tourism development is an economic policy priority for the government, Papoyan reported that the authorities have launched a number of support programs for businesses in the industry. As an example, he cited a program to support the hotel sector, which provides for subsidized interest rates on loans for equipment purchases, digitalization of business processes, consulting services, and the implementation of capital construction projects.
At the same time, he stated that the government is investing significantly in regional infrastructure development, expanding the road network there, modernizing tourist centers, and creating new tourist services.
In this context, the minister mentioned a major project to create tourism clusters in the country's regions, for which over ?120 million has been allocated.
It is worth noting that the HIF is being held for the fourth time and brings together representatives of leading global hotel brands, investors, developers, and government agencies to launch new projects, attract investment, and form long-term partnerships in Armenia and the region.
The event is focused on implementing real projects, establishing partnerships, and attracting investment. Following the 2024 Yerevan Forum, two investment agreements were signed, and the 2025 event brought together thousands of participants from around the world.
According to the Tourism Committee of Armenia, 825,400 tourists visited Armenia from January to May, a 19.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
The Tourism Committee of Armenia reports that in May alone, the number of tourists reached almost 200,000. Compared to April of this year, this represents a 15.5% increase, and compared to May 2025, a 10.5% increase. - 9.9%.
Russia, Georgia, and Iran consistently rank among the top three countries whose citizens most frequently choose Armenia for vacation.
