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Armenia has a great potential for development of ecotourism, the Director of AUA's Acopian Center for the Environment Alen Amirkhanian stated today at a conference titled "Ecotourism in Armenia" held in Yerevan.

In Amirkhanyan's words, the conference aimed at development of ecotourism in Armenia, suggesting an exchange platform of ideas and experience, consolidation of people and organizations who are working toward improving the agro tourism and ecotourism sectors in the republic.

Among privileges of Armenia in the sphere Amirkhanyan pointed to the country's wide variety of natural wonders as the country is one of the top 34 locations in the world in terms of its biodiversity. In his words, around 350 bird species while the number is 700 in whole Europe, 250 species of butterflies, 500 - in Europe, 3500 species of plants with 452 of them recorded in the Red Book.

"The point is that Armenia's wild nature may attract tourists. That is to say we the richness of the country's wild nature should be used in special programs to be presented to tourists," Amirkhanyan said.

The speaker next noted that agro tourism is quite popular among tourisms nowadays, where Armenia has much work to do. "With its village culture and lifestyle, national cuisine Armenia can attract any tourist, yet the country's is not recognizable in the world," Amirkhanyan said.