In Dubai on December 1, 2023, the 30th edition of the esteemed World Travel Awards unfolded, culminating in the Wings of Tatev initiative securing the top spot in the “World’s Leading Cable Car Ride” category through an open vote. David Vardanyan, son of Ruben Vardanyan, the visionary behind the Wings of Tatev project, graciously accepted the honorary award during the ceremony.
The Armenian cable car, surpassing competitors from Bolivia, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, and South Africa, emerged triumphant and was recognized as the best in the world as part of the World Travel Awards, one of the most prestigious international awards in the tourism sector.
Acknowledged as the “Travel Oscar,” the World Travel Awards, established in 1993, stands as a benchmark for excellence in the travel and hospitality sector. This marks the second occasion that “Wings of Tatev” has been acknowledged as the “World’s Leading Cable Car Ride” globally, with the initial recognition bestowed upon Armenia in 2021.
Expressing gratitude for the international honor, Mariia Butenko, Director of Impulse Business Management, the operator of the cable car, emphasized the team’s mission to showcase Tatev and provide an unparalleled experience. The award not only enhances Armenia’s standing as a premier tourist destination but also plays a pivotal role in promoting the country and Tatev on the global tourism stage.
David Vardanyan, acknowledging his father’s altruistic endeavors, conveyed a poignant message. Ruben Vardanyan devoted his life to transformative charitable, social, educational, and infrastructure projects, notably exemplified by the construction of Wings of Tatev—the world’s longest cable car leading to the enchanting medieval Tatev Monastery complex. Despite the well-deserved recognition, Ruben Vardanyan and numerous Armenians face unjust detainment by Azerbaijani authorities for political reasons.
With over 13 years of operation, Wings of Tatev has hosted more than a million visitors, contributing to a significant uptick in tourist influx to the Syunik region. Every fifth visitor to the country incorporates the cable car into their itinerary, resulting in a seventeenfold increase in tourism compared to 2010.
Wings of Tatev not only unveils previously undiscovered facets of Armenia but also elevates the nation’s global recognition. Acknowledged in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest passenger cable car (5752 meters), the project boasts another notable achievement—an impressively short ten-month construction period. Executed by the Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr/Garaventa, a leader in ropeway construction, Wings of Tatev undergoes annual rigorous testing to ensure compliance with international safety standards.
As an integral component of the “Tatev Revival” program initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, the cable car operates as a non-profit endeavor. All proceeds contribute to the restoration of the Tatev Monastery and community development, overseen by Impulse Business Management.
