| Tourism (Potential and Evaluation): |
| Local Area & Demographics: |
| Population:
The Aragatsotn province was formed in February 1996 and includes four former administrative regions of the eastern part of Armenia - Ashtarak, Aparan, Talin, and Aragats regions with total area of 1,037 sq. miles and population of 170,000 (110,000 rural and 60,000 urban residents). The province is located in the Ararat valley. Differing in elevation from 2,624 to 8,200 feet. Mount Aragats rises to 13,424 feet. Ashtarak is the administrative center of the province. It has a population of 16,000. The second-largest city of the province is Talin, with a population of 14,000. Aparan is another large city in the province, with a population of 12,000. Tsaghkahovit is a city with 8,000 residents. |
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| Significant
Cities and/or Villages:
Four large cities: Ashtarak, Aparan, Tsaghkahovit and Talin. Ashtarak is famous for
its historical monuments. The main features of Ashtarak are the grand
Tsiranavor (Orange) Church (V - VI century) and the small Karmravor
(Red) Church (VII century). |
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| Primary
Economic Drivers:
The industrial potential of the province is concentrated mainly in cities of Ashtarak, Aparan, Tsaghkahovit, and Talin. Over 80% of the province's 46 large and medium scale enterprises have been privatized. The major industrial enterprises are Ashtarak Transistor (semiconductor) Plant, a state controlled Joint Stock Company and Aparan "Nig" Plant (fully privatized), both producers of electronics for the former defense industry. There are also a number of textile factories and construction companies, all of which have been privatized. Agriculture, the most developed sector of the province's economy, accounts for 70% of the province's aggregate production volume. There are 2,500 medium and large-scale agricultural farms and food processing companies in the province. Aragatsotn province has 274,281 acres of agricultural land of which 75% is arable, including 15% of orchard land and vineyards, and the rest are meadows and pastures. The province produces 31,000-35,000 tons of wheat, 60,000-65,000 tons of fruit and vegetables, and 15,000-18,000 tons of grapes annually. Fifty percent of large and middle enterprises in Aragatsotn specialize in processing of fruit and vegetable supplied by local farms. Aragatsotn province has access to the international transportation facilities. Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport with its recently built international cargo terminal and passenger facilities is located 20 miles from Ashtarak, center of the province. The highway connecting Yerevan with northern borders of Armenia runs through the Aragatsotn province and links it with Georgian ports Poti and Batumi on the black sea. The entire Aparan and Ashtarak regions, and part of the Talin region are located in higher mountainous zone and are rich with high quality potable water sources. These regions also have alpine pastures, and the local dairy products are considered to be of superior quality. The province has 3 cheese factories, a cannery, and 2 wineries. The Ashtarak milk factory has been upgraded with modern Italian equipment after privatization and now produces a wide range of dairy products, including yogurt, sour cream, and ice cream, which are very popular brands in the Armenian market. The Aragatsotn province has a number of research institutions -- a legacy of the soviet period -- and still has a sizeable scientific potential. There are 8 scientific research institutes of the Armenian national academy of sciences in the region, concentrated in the Ashtarak region. Among these centers are the world-famous Astrophysical Observatory in Byurakan, one of the largest in the former Soviet Union, Ashtarak Institute of Physical Research, Ashtarak Institute of Radio-Physical Measurements, and Aragats Cosmic Ray Research Institute. The activities of these research centers are currently curtailed, because of the low level of budget funding and lack of defense industry orders, once the major source of funding. Aragatsotn province is an attractive tourist destination. Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia, is located in the province. There are 9 hotels, motels, and spas with a total of 1,036 beds. These entities are looking for a long-term cooperation with foreign partners. |