Natural Monuments of the Kotayk Marza (Region) as a Factor in the Development of Tourism

Abstract

The purpose is to analyze the possibilities of using natural monuments of the Kotayk Region, to reveal the spatial appearance of natural monuments and to give them tourist signifi cance. Materials and methods. Data from the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia (RA) were used, fi eld, statistical, and interdisciplinary methods were applied. Results and discussion. The Republic of Armenia is one of the few countries that, despite its small territory, is distinguished by its complexity and diversity of the geological structure. Republic of Armenia has all the necessary resources for the development of tourism activities, which, with their targeted and eff ective use, could become a vital sector of the national economy, contributing to the further balanced regional development. Conclusion. The Kotayk Region has a wealth of natural monuments, the importance of which will facilitate the development of ecotourism in the region. One of the advantages of the Kotayk Region is its favorable geographical location in the Republic of Armenia: it is closer to the capital and has a busy transport network.