“Quality Certification System in Agrotourism” CerTour STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

1. The project progress in Armenia “Quality Certification System in Agrotourism” CerTour STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Suruceni village, Ialoveni region, Republic of Moldova 11-13 December, 2013

2. Project Promotionthrough actions at the national and local levels • State authorities Meetings and presentation of CerTour project has been organized in 2 Departments of the Ministry of Economy: Tourism Department and Licensing and Permits Agency, as well as to Tourism specialists at the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia -NCFA. They welcomed the Action and will provide with support and expertise.

3. Project Promotionthrough actions at the national and local levels • Stakeholders of the tourism, particularly rural/agro/community based and adventure tourism: • SMEs providing accommodation and catering services (B&Bs, guesthouses, small hotels, inns, wineries, small restaurants, farms, etc in countryside) • Tour operators • Union of Incoming Touroperators • Guide Guild • B&B Association

6. Project Promotionthrough actions at the national and local levels Communication with Third Parties , involved in Tourism Development • Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness (EDMC), a five-year USAID funded project (www.edmc.am). Hospitality is among the four supported sector of EDMC. • EU Delegation to Armenia has been informed about Action and the relevant documents are submitted. • The Local Coordinator participated and informed about CerTour project at the meeting with main tourism stakeholders at the World Bank Country Office in Armenia. The World Bank is going to invest in the Tourism Development project in Armenia soon. • The project local staff attended the Second Annual Community Festival, organized by Counterpart International Armenia’s, where 43 partner communities showcased their local traditions and handicraft on October 1, 2013. • Presentation of the project at the Investment Meeting in Syunik Marz (Province)

7. Presentation of CerTour project and Communication with NGOs, involved in Rural Development Are very interested in rural tourism and are willing to participate in CerTour project activities potential members of the Transnational Assessors Registry

8. Green Lane NGODedicated toArmenia's Organic Foods and Agricultural Development (www.greenlane.am)

9. ECOGLOBE NGO and ECOGLOBE LTDtheinternationally recognized organic certification body founded in 2002. It is pioneering in Armenia and other countries of CIS ( www.ecoglobe.am)

10. Homeland Development Initiative Foundation (“HDIF”)aims to initiate, facilitate, and nurture sustainable development initiatives in Armenian communities ( http://hdif.org) Bringing Success to the Rural Communities of Armenia

11. Heifer International’sArmenia program has assisted more than 10,000 families in building small, viable farm businesses (http://www.heifer.org/armenia/)

12. WWF- ArmeniaCommunity-based tourism Projects in close vicinity to protected areas

13. Armenian National Agrarian University Prepares the course of lectures on Agro-tourism within the framework of Tempus “Development of new modules for international bachelor and master programmes in sustainable tourism management” Project

14. All other NGOs in the regions of Armenia working in tourism field

15. Negotiations to obtain the financial support • Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness (EDMC), a five-year USAID funded project (www.edmc.am). Hospitality is among the four supported sector of EDMC. The application has developed and submitted in order to obtain the financial support to the project.

16. Communications with possible structures to provide the services are undertaken: • Study of the current status in the project regions • Study of customers needs and expectations • Good practices research in 3 countries

17. STUDY OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN RURAL TOURISM - AGROTOURISM IN ARMENIA November 2013

18. Thank you for attention!