They never cottoned on to the fact that if you relax the visa requirements permanently you get more tourists spending their Dollars, Pounds and Euros so boosting the econony then?
Or did they Eurovision song contest make them yearn for the good old days of the Soviet Union when such drivel was banned?

Not sure it works like that.

Georgia requires no visa, Azerbaijan and Armenia do. Who goes to Georgia but not Armenia or Azerbaijan?

What increase in tourism (in non eurovision times) do you think they would realistically get from relaxing the visa regime?

My guess is sweet FA.

I dont know anyone who goes to Georgia simply because they dont require a visa. If they go to Georgia its cause they would have gone to Georgia with or without a visa requirement.

Your logic would apply in western Europe ... if the Swiss suddenly require visas of everyone, many people that had a choice would ski in France or Austria instead. But for countries that require a real commitment to get to, like Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan, I doubt it makes any difference at all to the flow of European and American tourists.

Walter, I hate to say it (in public) but you are wrong....:oops2:

Armenia is visa free for EU members since 10 JAN 2013.:D

On anything else, I do agree.... bier

Here you can find the info btw:

Visa - Embassy of Armenia to Belgium

@crash:
seems like you managed to get on a VERY GOOD ferry from baku to turkmenbashi. Do you remember the name of the vessel?

Did the same thing last year but were turned back once at the ferry with valid tickets because of overload (big heavy GS Dakar compared to a cargo train...)
On the next day probably the worst rust bucket of the whole fleet turned up and we were allowed to board.

I wouldn't recommend the ferry to anyone on a five day transit visa. The risk of not making it is pretty high

Our experience thread from last year
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...perience-64873

cheers