Providers of tourism services in Armenia are required to notify the state about their activities. Otherwise, they may face legal penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the extent of the damage caused, stated Anait Mkrtchyan, head of the Tourism Policy Department of the Tourism Committee:
On August 13, 2026, a decision was made at the meeting of the Armenian government, approving the regulations for the database of tourism service providers:
“The purpose of this regulation and digitization is to make the notification process for tourism service providers simpler and more transparent, as well as to ensure its quick and accessible passage,” Mkrtchyan said at a press conference:
According to her, this is part of the overall digitization process of government services for citizens:
Mkrtchyan noted that tourism service providers will be able to register on the platform notifytourism.gov.am through the “Yes I am” identification system, after which they will notify the Tourism Committee about their activities:
“The regulation establishes who will manage the database of tourism service providers, which government bodies will be able to use this database, under what conditions it will operate and be updated, as well as other provisions related to its operation,” she added:
Speaking about the need for new regulations, Mkrtchyan mentioned that the Tourism Committee had received numerous complaints about unequal competitive conditions in the industry:
“Many businesses that complied with all requirements faced service providers who could offer similar services without state registration, tax payments, and employee formalization, thus earning higher incomes,” she explained:
According to Mkrtchyan, ensuring the safety and accuracy of information provided to tourists was also a significant issue:
The platform is already fully prepared and is currently undergoing testing. The official launch will take place on October 15, coinciding with the entry into force of the government decision:
Data collection will be conducted within the framework of inter-agency cooperation. This means that if a business has already submitted certain information on other government platforms, there will be no need to re-enter that data:
After the full launch of the notification system, a list of all individuals and companies that have notified about providing tourism services will be published on the official website of the Tourism Committee. Consumers and tourists will be able to check in advance whether a specific service provider has properly notified the state about their activities:
Although the platform will be fully operational by October 15, initially, notifications may only be submitted by tour operators and agents. Other service providers can connect to the system gradually, depending on its readiness:
According to the regulation, the notification is indefinite. However, tourism service providers are required to pay an annual state fee, as the activity subject to notification entails an annual payment obligation:
The amount of the state fee ranges from 5,000 to 150,000 drams, depending on the type of activity:
