Ուխտագնացություն դեպի առաջին քրիստոնյա երկիր՝ Հայաստան. կրոնական զբոսաշրջության զարգացման ներուժը ՀՀ-ում / Pilgrimage to the First Christian Country – Armenia։ Religious Tourism Development Potential in Armenia

Abstract

Religious or pilgrimage tourism is one of the main types of tourism in Armenia. Armenia is considered to be the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion. Today there are 1475 churches and 610 chapels in Armenia. The total number of religious objects is 2444. There are essential preconditions for the development of religious tourism in Armenia. The article introduces some pilgrimage tourism routes, as well as suggestions for expanding the routes, improving marketing activities, celebrating Christian holidays attracting tourists, as well as giving certificate of "Pilgrimage to the first Christian country - Armenia" to tourists, which is used in Christian pilgrimage centers - in Jerusalem, Vatican, and Santiago de Compostela.