One of the preferred sectors for developing Lori region’s economy is the tourism. According to the regional administration the number of guests who visited the region in 2017 compared with 2016 doubled, reaching 200,000 people. This year it is planned to start several new projects that will have a serious impact on tourism development of Lori. In particular, new ropeways will be built in the regional community of Shahumyan, at the foot of Mount Maymekh. According to this project, the ropeways will have 4 directions with capacity up to 2,000 passengers. The average speed of the cable cars will be about twice as fast as the speed of Tatever ropeway. The longest in the region - 8 km ski track also planned to be build. This track designed for skiers, snowboarders, and for sledding, too. The Shahumyan community was chosen for this project because Vanadzor itself is unfavorable for winter recreation activities and winter here is about 45 days shorter than in Shahumyan. Currently, design and estimation works are being carried out by Canadian specialists of Armenian origin. For the project implementation 50 million US dollars of private investment should be attracted. The project to be more holistic it is planned also to further develop tourism infrastructure of the city including new hotels, cafes and other needed facilities. Additionally, for more attractiveness, the City Council plan to offer guests with free transportation to Mount Maymekh ropeways and back to Vanadzor. As soon as design papers are ready, construction works will start immediately. The first stage of the construction will last 9-12 months.

There are stormy discussions among architects in the last year. The reason is the possible investment project of a new cable car in Yerevan. According to the media, the project proposal was presented in April last year by IDeA Foundation Director Edgar Manukyan at a meeting with Deputy Mayor Vahe Nikoyan. Since June, the Yerevanproject CJSC started work on this project and already in October a meeting-discussion was held between the director of Doppelmayr Seilbahnen Valery Yashin and the deputy mayor of Yerevan Vahe Nikoyan. The aim of the project is to create an alternative link between downtown and the administrative districts of the city - Kanaker-Zeytun, Nork-Marash, Nor-Nork, Arabkir or Ajapnyak. Note that the project proposal does not include the restoration of the old ropeway from Heratsi Street to Nork-Marash district. While the issues like project start date, possible investors or the ropeway capacity still under discussion, we’ll try to understand what will mean the implementation of this project for Yerevan. Recall that the cable car of Yerevan, built in 1967, stopped working in 2004 due to tragic accident. Maybe at that time the termination of the ropeway work did not significantly affect the capital’s transport communication system, but today, due to the growth of traffic flows, when traffic jams appears everywhere, this project must be a necessity. The implementation of the project will somehow unload the traffic load in the city, in particular in the downtown. In addition, it can become a starting point for development of tourism-connected businesses in peripheral administrative districts of Yerevan and will create greener environment for the leaving in Yerevan.

Today, in October 16, as it was scheduled earlier, was launched reversible ropeway to Tatev monastery complex through Halidzor gorge with the length of 5.7 km, which is currently the longest in the world. Ropeway is a part of the "Tatev revival" project, which also includes the reconstruction of the monastery, the construction of the hotel and infrastructure improvements. The opening was attended by President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, other authorities of the republic and guests. The ropeway construction was completed by "Doppelmayr Garaventa Group" Austrian-Swiss company which is world's leader in this field. The total journey by cable car up to Tatev Monastery takes about 11.5 minutes, the highest point above the canyon is nearly 330m. In each direction will move one carrier with a capacity of 25 people. Note that the "flight" to the monastery in this air car is not for the faint of heart ... The cost of the project "Tatev revival" was originally envisaged in the range of $ 20-25 million, but subsequently the cost of the works go up to $ 50mln. Project was funded from several sources. More than half of the fund were invested by Friends of Ruben and Veronica Vardanyans' Fund, and the Government of Armenia mainly financed infrastructure development.