Svetlana Dallakyan

As an upper-middle-income country, Armenia should develop and implement targeted policies, such as increased R&D investments, education reforms, and industry-academia collaboration, to enhance its innovation performance. Strengthening these areas is expected to contribute to higher Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings, reflecting improved national innovation capacity.
This study aims to estimate the impact of various GII components (including pillars, sub-indices, and sub-pillars) on the overall GII and pillar scores for upper-middle-income countries. Based on these findings, the study seeks to identify Armenia’s key policy priorities and provide targeted recommendations for enhancing its innovation performance. This study employs a cross-sectional regression to analyze the factors influencing GII scores in upper-middle-income countries, assessing the impact of sub-indices, pillars, and sub-pillars. The analysis reveals that market sophistication and creative outputs strongly influence GII scores among upper-middle-income countries, contributing significantly to national innovation performance. Additionally, knowledge and technology outputs, human capital and research, and infrastructure pillars show a statistically significant impact at the 5% level. Notably, even minor improvements in innovation output sub-index scores account for substantial variations in GII rankings. These findings suggest that Armenia should prioritize targeted education reforms, increase R&D investment, and strengthen university-industry linkages to enhance its innovation ecosystem and improve its global competitiveness.

Acknowledgment
The research was supported by the Science Committee of the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the project No. 21T-5B234.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The paper aims to explore tourists’ perceptions and behaviors regarding sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Armenia. An online survey method was employed to collect data from 385 domestic tourists in Armenia from July to October 2024, enabling efficient and cost-effective access to a diverse respondent group. The sample size was determined based on a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error, ensuring statistical reliability. The online format allowed for a broader reach and anonymity, making it suitable for exploring tourists’ knowledge of the SDGs, comprehension of sustainable tourism, and willingness to embrace sustainable behaviors.
Interestingly, despite only 46% of respondents being explicitly familiar with the SDGs, a significant proportion (64%) demonstrated knowledge of sustainable development, 62% understood sustainable tourism, and 64% believed tourism could positively impact sustainable development. Statistical analysis, specifically the Pearson Chi-Square test, revealed a strong correlation between knowledge of sustainable development and awareness of sustainable tourism, and tourists’ willingness to modify their travel habits and invest in eco-friendly options. Additionally, a sense of environmental responsibility was found to significantly influence the adoption of sustainable practices. Moreover, prioritizing sustainable tourism when selecting destinations strongly correlated with support for sustainable tourism initiatives.
While many tourists acknowledged the importance of sustainable tourism, challenges such as limited information and higher costs hindered the adoption of eco-friendly behaviors. To promote sustainable tourism and contribute to achieving the SDGs, the study emphasizes the need for intensified awareness campaigns, accessible sustainable options, and collaborative efforts between the tourism industry, government, and tourists.