YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. In the village of Vardablur in the Lori region, at the “Beeography” guesthouse, guests are welcomed with a honey drink, considered the guesthouse’s signature dish. The guesthouse’s cabins are shaped like beehives, where rural tourism enthusiasts can, in addition to relaxing, taste honey and participate in its collection.
Beeography Guesthouse is one of the beneficiaries of the “Rural Tourism Development” program of the ACBA Federation and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU): with the grant received, special eco-friendly solutions were implemented, thanks to which the guesthouse filters wastewater and does not pollute the environment, according to the ACBA Bank press service.
“By building the guesthouse, we aimed not only to develop the local community but also to stimulate tourism and the local community.
“We’ve created a cozy retreat where the food is organic, prepared from local, natural ingredients. It was important to us that the guesthouse’s operations align with the principles of organic agriculture, so we began implementing green solutions, from installing solar panels and achieving self-sufficiency to constructing and installing wastewater treatment facilities, with the support of the Acba Federation and NABU.
“Since the guesthouse is located near a river, it was important for us to ensure that the wastewater generated during our guesthouse operations would not harm the environment in any way,” noted Hayarpi Hakobyan, founder of the Beeography guesthouse.
Hayarpi’s collaboration with Acba Bank and NABU began in 2021: she participated in the organic agriculture support program and received an organic honey producer certificate, introducing her products to international markets.
The Acba Federation is the only major shareholder in Acba Bank, holding over 75% of the bank’s shares. Through its participation in Acba Bank, the Acba Federation contributes to the development of agriculture throughout Armenia, small and medium-sized businesses in rural areas, communities, the activation and strengthening of the business environment in communities, and the improvement of the well-being of everyone engaged in entrepreneurial activity in these areas.
