Georgia hosts regional tourism service providers

27.09.2014. Georgia hosted a regional group of tourism service providers and representatives of travel agencies from Armenia, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria visiting Georgia in the framework of the EU funded PIRT (Promoting Innovative Rural Tourism) project on Sept 17-22, 2014.

The project is implemented by Heifer Armenia as a lead partner in cooperation with Heifer Georgia, Varna Economic Development Agency (VEDA, Bulgaria), Gumushane National Educational Directorate, a press release said.

The regional group of 37 people consisting of tourism service providers and travel agents were in Georgia on exchange visit to discover the nature and cultural heritage of Georgia, study the potential for further development of rural tourism, as well as learn the specifics of Georgian rural tourism through visiting the sights of in rural areas, including ancient monasteries, museums, eco-cottages, wineries, a horse farm, etc.

Georgia’s tourism potential promoted in Azerbaijan

23.09.2014. Large-scale marketing campaign of Georgia's National Tourism Administration is underway in Azerbaijan.

Ad banners on Georgia have been placed in the central streets of Azerbaijani capital of Baku, and on the trains of Baku Metro. At the same time 30-second videos are being displayed on the monitors throughout the city.

Georgia's sightseeing places are also advertised on the social networking sites.

The marketing campaign in Azerbaijan will continue until December 15. Its goal is to promote Georgia's tourism potential.

Georgia's Tourism Agency told Trend on Sept. 8 that Azerbaijan is one of the priority tourism markets for Georgia.

In recent years, the number of visitors from Azerbaijan has increased significantly. According to stats, during the first eight months of 2014, Georgia was visited by 859,683 visitors from Azerbaijan or 25 percent more than in the same period of 2013.

Azerbaijan ranks second in terms of the number of visitors going to Georgia.

Source

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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Russian politics causing cancellation of scheduled tours in Georgia

by  Mariam Papidze

08.09.2014. Large numbers of tourists are cancelling pre-booked trips to Georgia due to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel as well as the 3 days of shooting that occurred between Azerbaijan and Armenia. So far about 50 percent of scheduled tours have been cancelled, according to tour operator companies in Georgia. This year less tourists have come to Georgia from Italy, Poland and Israel. Meanwhile, Spanish tourists have been more interested in travelling to Georgia, they say. The economic crisis in Europe, tense situation between Russia and Ukraine, conflict in Israel and shooting between Armenia and Azerbaijan are cited as the main reasons why tourists are avoiding travel to Georgia.

“Last year Italian tourists were very active in this area, but currently, due to the economic crisis in Italy, less Italian tourists are visiting Georgia,” said Albina Iashchenko, MICE and Incoming Department Head at Destination Georgia. “Many tours are being cancelled by Italian tourists. However, Spanish tourists have become more interested in Georgia. The overall number of tourists in Georgia has decreased and this is down to the large number of cancelled tours. At our agency about 50 percent of scheduled tours have been cancelled this year, mostly by Italian tourists. Our partner companies in Italy are trying to create groups of tourists that will visit Georgia as tour packages are cheaper that way. In most cases such groups have not been created as the price of the trips is still considered expensive for tourists. This is why tourists have changed their travel destinations,” she added.

Georgia's Caucasian charm lures hikers and hipsters

07.09.2014. A history spanning centuries and civilizations, churches perched atop green mountains and inexpensive food and wine are just a few of the draws of the small Caucasian country of Georgia.

Nestled between Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Georgia has emerged from years of conflict to become the go-to travel destination in the Caucasus.

This land served as a battleground under the rule of Persians, Arabs, Mongols and Soviets until it declared independence in 1991. That was followed by years of civil war and economic hardship until the Rose Revolution of 2003, when peaceful protests ousted then-president Eduard Shevardnadze.

The country was rocked by a brief invasion by Russia in 2008 over disputed territory, and tensions still simmer.