Next week, Armenia will hold perhaps the biggest events of its post-Soviet history. Delegations from a number of major countries, international personalities will visit the country for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be commemorated with the main events in Yerevan on 23 and 24 April.
Preparations for the commemorative events were held in Yerevan for months and they cover almost all areas of life in the city – the improvement of infrastructure and traffic accommodation, public health and safety Customers visiting the country.
At the beginning of the year, the Chief Vladimir Gasparyan police ordered the establishment of a working group to coordinate the work of the police during the events related to the commemoration of the centenary of the genocide. Police officers who have received special training will do special tests in different places in the capital on April 24, and during the days preceding and following it.
In recent assistant working consultations Yerevan Mayor David Ohanian gave instructions to provide additional conditions in health care facilities in connection with the events of the genocide centennial in order to be able to serve potentially more people seeking medical or professional advice help.
The director of the ambulance service was responsible for ensuring able to serve different parts of Yerevan in first aid in case of need. The service was also responsible for mobilizing more vehicles and ambulance staff than usual before the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on April 24.
Early March, the municipality of Yerevan began tree pruning activities in the capital, explaining that she is also pursuing aesthetic purposes, as this will provide more visibility to the city and its architectural designs.
The majority of buildings in Yerevan today have posters with messages on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide as well as symbols of the commemoration of the genocide centennial. The stickers with this flower can also be seen on many cars in Yerevan these days.
Hotels are also full of preparations in recent days to accommodate thousands of visitors expected in Armenia for the April events. Armhotels.am, an online hotel reservation site, told ArmeniaNow that since mid-March, nearly all rooms in 70 hotels in Yerevan had been reserved for the period from April 20 to 25. At the date of today, there are only a few rooms available and they are in hotels located on the outskirts of the city.
Considering the expected influx of customers, some hotels have even increased their prices. But the big hotels like Best Western Congress, for example, have denied any changes in their pricing policy. The hotel managers said that all their rooms for the period from April 21 to 25 have been reserved there is already a month.
Economists say that in addition to the political, the large number of visitors expected in Armenia will also have its effect in economic affairs. For example, the Armenian national currency, the dram, is likely to gain more ground due to strong foreign exchange inflows expected this month.
“Most likely some changes will be observed in the exchange rate dollar-dram and the Armenian national currency will appreciate for a short period. I think it will last until early May, “said the economist Vilen Khachatryan ArmeniaNow. “Visits to a large number of foreign tourists will also bring greater purchasing power, and there will be some activity especially in the tourism sector.”
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN