For the third time, the “Wings of Tatev” cable car, located in Armenia’s Syunik region, has once again been awarded the title of “World’s Leading Cable Car.” at the World Travel Awards 2024, often referred to as the “Travel Oscar,” one of the most prestigious international tourism honors.
This year, the Armenian cable car outperformed competitors from Bolivia, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. Previously, “Wings of Tatev” brought Armenia victory in this category in 2023 and 2021. The announcement of the award was made on November 24 during the official ceremony in Madeira, Portugal.
The World Travel Awards, often referred to as the “Travel Oscar,” is one of the most prestigious accolades in the travel and tourism industry. Since 1993, it has recognized excellence in travel, tourism, and hospitality, highlighting outstanding projects for their pursuit of excellence, high service standards, and innovation.
“Receiving this prestigious award for the third time proves that Armenia boasts a unique, world-class tourism infrastructure. On the one hand, it contributes to the development of the southern region; on the other, it showcases Armenia’s immense spiritual and cultural heritage to visitors from around the world. For the second consecutive year, my father has been unable to personally accept this award or continue his philanthropic and humanitarian projects, as he is unlawfully detained in a Baku prison on fabricated charges. I am proud that his projects make Armenia known globally. I am confident he will realize many more groundbreaking projects in the future,” said David Vardanyan, the eldest son of Ruben Vardanyan, who launched the project.
Mariia Butenko, Director of the “Wings of Tatev” cable car, emphasized the significance of this recognition for Armenia’s tourism sector. “Winning the World Travel Awards again proves that this project, initiated by Ruben Vardanyan, was not only well-conceived but continues to fully serve its purpose. It adds significant value to Armenia’s tourism appeal. Our primary goal is to introduce guests to Armenia, especially its stunning southern region, and provide them with truly unforgettable experiences. We hope this victory will attract many new visitors, revealing Tatev’s cultural and natural treasures to them,” she noted.
The “Wings of Tatev” holds a Guinness World Record as the longest reversible passenger cable car in the world, spanning 5,752 meters. Another notable achievement is its remarkably short construction period for such a large-scale engineering structure”just 10 months.
This year, the cable car celebrated its 14th anniversary, having welcomed more than 1,300,000 passengers since its opening. It has played a crucial role in developing Armenia’s tourism industry, with one in five tourists visiting Tatev.
The “Wings of Tatev” project has also made significant contributions to cultural and social development in Armenia’s southern region. It is part of the “Tatev Gateway” complex, a non-profit initiative, with all proceeds directed towards the restoration of Tatev Monastery and the development of the local community. Thanks to the cable car, many visitors have discovered Syunik and its historical heritage, while Tatev Monastery has become more accessible.
This project has created new jobs for locals, spurred economic growth, and encouraged infrastructure development and the establishment of small tourism businesses.
The “Wings of Tatev” is part of the “Tatev Revival Program,” initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend. The cable car was constructed by the Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr/Garaventa, a leader in ropeway construction. It undergoes annual inspections to meet international safety standards and is managed by Impulse Business Management.
