On April 25-26, the “Open Basin” sub-grant program was launched in the means of two-day online courses in Gegharkunik marz, which is implemented by the efforts of “Blejan” environmental, social and business support NGO within the framework of “EU for Culture. Stronger Communities and Local Initiatives” program. The program is funded by the European Union with the support of the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (DVV International), the Media Initiatives Center, the Museum Employees and Friends Association and the Armenian Center for Democratic Education (CIVITAS).
The participants of the courses are young people from different regions of Gegharkunik marz of the Republic of Armenia, who are interested in the development of tourism in their marz. That is why they applied to the competition pre-announced within the framework of the “Open Basin” sub-grant program, and by overcoming the problems set before them, they received the right to participate in the program. After completing the training stages, the young people will gain the skills of a future guide and with the knowledge gained at the end of the program, they will plan three tourist routes with the help of the experts.
The topics of the two-day courses were “Natural and Historic-Cultural Monuments of the Republic of Armenia” and “Stories and Tales as a Basis for Tourism Development”, about which Lala Mkrtchyan, the expert of the program, gave a detailed and comprehensive lecture.
The expert taught the participants to distinguish natural monuments from historic-cultural monuments and provided concrete examples, together with general information about the monuments. Particular attention was paid to the natural monuments of Gegharkunik marz, which are considered to be natural objects of special aesthetic value. For example, Azhdahak is the highest peak of Geghama mountains with a height of 3598 m. It is nearly inaccessible, but it doesn’t stop tourists from climbing up the mountain and admiring the beauty of Azhdahak Crater Lake. A small chapel is built near the lake. Azhdahak is also known for its vishapakars (dragon stones), which are widespread around the top of the mountain, as well as in different parts of Geghama mountains.
The historical and historical-architectural monuments and their architecture were separately represented. Then, through an interactive exercise, the participants introduced natural and historic-cultural monuments of their region and those of nearby settlements and received a task to represent them in writing.
The next topic of the course was dedicated to stories and tales, which also contribute to the development of tourism.
The expert taught some skills of collecting interesting stories and traditional tales to the participating young people, as well as she represented the obstacles encountered in practice and the schemes of overcoming them. On this topic, the participants also represented the interesting stories, traditions, rituals typical of their community and received a task to represent them in writing.