bahrainthismonth.com | NOVEMBER 2026 INTERVIEW 109 Katya Bredikhina Green Rock Management Company has brought a hotel to Dilijan and is building a music hall, while Green Rock Foundation has established a hospitality school. What do you ask of those involved? People must understand what the town already has and what it needs, contributing their expertise and financial resources alongside their time. This approach comes from Green Rock founder Mareta Gevorkyan, who placed the community at the heart of development. How do you develop Dilijan while protecting its national park and musical heritage? Dilijan National Park covers 33,765 hectares of beech and oak forests. Everything we do should highlight its natural surroundings, not hide them. In 1963, the Composers’ Union opened eight cottages, each with a grand piano. Dmitri Shostakovich completed two string quartets in cottage eight. We still work with the Union. The music hall being built next to Villa 3, with room for up to 650 people, is designed primarily for classical music, particularly chamber performances. We want to preserve that legacy and build on it. How can a town of 15,000 people gain international recognition? Through personal connections. Last year, I met 35 members of the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism. Only two had heard of Armenia. We travel abroad to promote Dilijan through gastronomy and music, then invite people to experience it themselves. We are preparing a bid for World Region of Gastronomy in 2031 and hope to host the World Gastronomy Summit that year. There is still work to do on farm-to-table supply chains and waste management. How have residents responded? Curious residents join us, while others wait to see results. We must earn their trust through our work. In December, Winter in Dilijan attracted more than 12,000 visitors across eight weekend days, many from Yerevan. Everything we do is for the community. We are the community. Amna’s Reflections Attending the Tourism Regional Forum was a wonderful experience and an opportunity to learn more about Dilijan’s potential as a destination for travellers from Bahrain and the wider Gulf. I hope more people from this region have the chance to visit and experience this beautiful town for themselves. How are young people contributing? Our NextGen grants offer USD 1,500 to young people aged 15 to 24 who identify local problems and propose solutions. Last year, a teenager built a playground in a neighbourhood that had none. Another worked with the municipality to install QR code signs at heritage sites. Five projects are running this year, funded by individuals who chose to support them. What is your vision for Dilijan in 10 years? A place people choose to visit, stay longer, live and work. Healthcare and education remain the government’s responsibility. We support rather than replace those services. Above all, we want residents involved in the opportunities being created around them. Each initiative should improve their quality of life and economic circumstances while giving them more say in the town’s future. Achieving that is incredibly difficult, but incredibly important.
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