Despite the global economic crisis, the number of tourists visiting Karabakh has risen this year. Sergei Shahverdyan, who runs the NKR Department of Tourism, told "Hetq" that the country has also witnessed a large inflow of tourists from Armenia as well. He was confident that the country would witness a 20-25% rise in the tourist trade over last year. Mr. Shahverdyan also reported that the program designed to increase the affordability of tourist package-plans to the NKR was underway and that a number of publicity measures were being carried out to inform the public about the new offers designed to boost tourism in Artsakh.