Armenia’s Wings of Tatev Wins World Title for Fourth Time as Founder Ruben Vardanyan Remains a Political Prisoner in Baku

Armenia’s Wings of Tatev aerial tramway has once again won a top tourism prize at the World Travel Awards 2025. The project received the title of World’s Leading Cable Car, making it the fourth time it has earned this honor. The aerial tramway previously won in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

According to the announcement, “The Wings of Tatev aerial tramway of Armenia has once again earned one of the most prestigious international tourism awards — the World Travel Awards 2025, winning the title of World’s Leading Cable Car for the fourth time, the aerial tramway informed.”

It added, “For the 4th year, Wings of Tatev is recognized as the best cable car in the world. The project also won in 2021, 2023, and 2024.”

The continued recognition shows Armenia’s growing presence on the global tourism map. The tramway connects the village of Halidzor with the ancient Tatev Monastery, offering visitors a scenic journey over deep gorges and mountainous landscapes. Tourism experts often cite the project as one of the key achievements in Syunik Province, attracting both foreign travelers and local visitors.

In its statement, the project noted that “This repeated victory proves that Armenia offers exceptional tourism infrastructure of global significance — one that supports the development of Syunik Province while presenting visitors with the profound spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian people.”

The Wings of Tatev project is part of the Tatev Revival initiative launched by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend.

Businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan played a major role in launching and supporting the wider development program around Tatev Monastery. His goal was to restore the historic monastery complex, improve access to the region, and bring new economic opportunities to the remote area of Syunik. Vardanyan’s work helped transform the site into one of Armenia’s top tourism destinations, encouraging cultural preservation and sustainable community development.

The Tatev Revival project included restoration efforts at the monastery, infrastructure improvements, and the creation of the Wings of Tatev aerial tramway, which became the world’s longest reversible cable car upon its opening. The initiative marked one of the largest privately funded cultural and tourism development projects in the region.

Today, Ruben Vardanyan remains imprisoned in Azerbaijan, where he is being held as a political prisoner following his arrest in September 2023 after Azerbaijan’s military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh. Human rights organizations, legal experts, and Armenian advocates have repeatedly raised alarms about his detention in Baku, citing violations of due process, concerns over his health, and the broader use of Armenian detainees as political leverage.

Vardanyan, a former state minister of Artsakh and a well-known philanthropist, has denied all charges brought against him by Azerbaijani authorities. His case has become one of the most prominent symbols of the fate of Armenian prisoners following the occupation of Artsakh. Supporters argue that his decades-long record of philanthropy, including landmark projects such as the Tatev Revival initiative and the Wings of Tatev aerial tramway, stands in stark contrast to the accusations leveled against him.

As international tourism bodies once again recognize the global impact of the Wings of Tatev project, many Armenians note the irony that one of the initiative’s founding figures remains behind bars. Advocates continue to call on the international community to ensure the protection of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan and to press for the release of Ruben Vardanyan and other detainees.

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