Muscat: Indians living in Oman can now get Armenian entry visa on arrival in Yerevan, the Foreign Affairs Ministry that country has said.
In an update issued on February 22, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia said citizens of India, who hold a residence permit in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman can obtain an Armenian entry visa also while crossing the border of the Republic of Armenia.
Earlier, only Omani citizens were granted the visa-on-arrival in Armenia. Travel agents working in Oman said Armenia, which got its independence only in 1991, is turning out to be a promising travel destination.
“With Qatar Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia operating flights to Yerevan, Armenia is also emerging as a place with great potential for tourism-related investment,” a travel agent in Muscat said.
Yerevan is the capital of the Republic of Armenia and one of the three hubs of the South Caucasus.
It’s also home to the largest Armenian community in the world.
Travel agents pointed out that central Yerevan is a true jewel of early Soviet architecture.
“She is also home to some large scale modern and post-modern marvels, which are mostly the result of Soviet-Armenian architectural megalomania. During Soviet days, Yerevan had already become known as the Pink City due to the colour of the stone used for building as well as for the flamboyant spirit of her young population,” one of them said.
The main streets named after prominent figures in the nearly 2,600-year-old city are now embracing new shops selling international brands. At present, tourism constitutes 6 to 8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But the target is to increase it to 13 per cent by 2030.
There are a lot of churches listed under the World Heritage list: The cathedral and churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological site of Zvartnots, monasteries at Haghpat, Sanahin and Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley.
Yerevan also boasts of having opera houses and theatres.
“With Indians living in Oman now being able to obtain Armenian entry visa on their arrival at Yerevan, we believe more and more tourists from Oman will start visiting Armenia, just like Georgia, which has become a hot travel destination in Oman,” a leading travel agent in Muscat said.