The “Wings of Tatev” cable car has won the prestigious World Travel Awards international prize for the fourth time, winning in the “World’s Best Cable Car” category.
This year, the Armenian cable car beat competitors from Bolivia, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, and South Africa. Previously, Wings of Tatev brought Armenia victory in this category in 2024, 2023, and 2021.
The victory of Wings of Tatev was announced in Bahrain at the official award ceremony of the World Travel Awards 2025 following an open vote.
This year, Wings of Tatev celebrated its 15th anniversary. Since its launch, the cable car has become one of the main symbols of Armenian tourism. Built on the initiative of Ruben Vardanyan and listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest (5,752 m) reversible cable car, it has been of key importance not only for the development of the Syunik region, but also for Armenia as a whole, increasing the country’s tourist appeal. Today, one in five tourists visiting Armenia comes to Syunik, and the tourist flow to the region has increased 17-fold.
Wings of Tatev not only connected tourists with one of the most picturesque corners of Armenia, but also opened the way to the medieval Tatev Monastery, breathing new life into the region and turning it into a magnet for travelers, cultural initiatives, and local businesses.
The cable car was built as part of the “Revival of Tatev” program initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronica Zonabend, bringing together thousands of philanthropists, builders, and volunteers for the sake of tourism and socio-economic development in Syunik. All proceeds from the project go towards the restoration of Tatev Monastery and the development of the Tatev community.
The World Travel Awards is considered one of the most prestigious international awards in the tourism industry, which annually recognizes and rewards outstanding achievements in the global tourism, travel, and hospitality industry. It is often referred to as the “Oscars” of tourism, as it is awarded to the best projects in the industry for their commitment to excellence, high level of service, and innovation.
