Wings of Tatev nominated for World Travel Awards 2025

ArmInfo. The Wings of Tatev aerial tramway is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its official opening and, on the eve of its anniversary, has once again been  nominated for the prestigious World Travel Awards 2025 in the  category "World's Best Aerial Tramway."

According to a report received by ArmInfo, over the past 15 years,  the Wings of Tatev have become one of the main symbols of Armenian  tourism. Built on the initiative of Ruben Vardanyan and listed in the  Guinness Book of Records as the longest reversible aerial tramway  (5,752 m) in the world, it has played a key role not only in the  development of the Syunik region but also for Armenia as a whole,  enhancing the country's tourism appeal and earning Armenia three  World Travel Awards.

Ruben Vardanyan himself once explained the significance of this  project as follows: "The goal of all our projects is to put Armenia  on the world map and make it interesting for both local residents,  the Diaspora, and foreigners. The hardest part is convincing people  that such programs can act as a catalyst and change the situation in  the country."

Fifteen years after the construction of the ropeway, it's clear that  Vardanyan's vision has been realized - the project has not only  increased Armenia's visibility but also become a powerful impetus for  its development.

Since the project's launch, approximately 1.5 million passengers have  used the Wings of Tatev services.  Today, one in five tourists  visiting Armenia comes to Syunik, and tourism to the region has  increased 17- fold.

Thanks to the project, private sector investment in the region has  increased 11-fold. The increased tourism has contributed to the  development of the hotel infrastructure: 40 new B&Bs have opened in  the vicinity of Tatev and Goris. Thanks to the cable car, Tatev has  become an attractive destination for not only tourist but also  cultural events, such as the BASE Jump and Music Fest festivals, the  traditional Trndez festivities, the sheep shearing festival, the  immersive "In the Mountains" festival, as well as events  commemorating the 150th anniversary of Komitas, and more.

The Wings of Tatev not only connect tourists to one of the most  picturesque corners of Armenia but also open the way to the medieval  Tatev Monastery, breathing new life into the region and transforming  it into a destination for travelers, cultural initiatives, and local  businesses.

The ropeway's anniversary coincides with its nomination for the  prestigious 2025 World Travel Awards in the "World's Best Aerial  Tramway" category. The project has won this award three times in  2021, 2023, and 2024. This year, the Wings of Tatev is competing with  ropeways from Bolivia, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand, the  United States, and South Africa.

Residents of Armenia and visitors from abroad can support the Wings  of Tatev by voting by following these simple steps: follow the link;  register using email; confirm the email received; click the Vote Now  button; Select the World section, find item #64-World's Leading Cable  Car Ride 2025-and vote for Wings of Tatev, Armenia. Voting will close  on October 26, 2025.

The cable car was built as part of the Tatev Revival program,  initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, and united the  efforts of thousands of philanthropists, builders, and volunteers for  the tourism and socioeconomic development of Syunik. All proceeds  from the project go toward the restoration of Tatev Monastery and the  development of the Tatev community.

World Travel Awards is a prestigious international awards program  that annually recognizes and rewards outstanding achievements in the  global tourism, travel, and hospitality industries.