Friday, October 31, 2014

Bio monitoring and environmental tourism in Lagodekhi

by Tatia Megeneishvili

31.10.2014. Head of UNDP in Georgia Niels ScottThe Lagodekhi Protected Area presented its new system of biodiversity monitoring and poach trackingMinister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia Elguja Khokrishvili and Head of UNDP in Georgia Niels Scott visited  newly opened touristic tracks and souvenir shops The Lagodekhi Protected Area presented its new system of biodiversity monitoring and the tracking of poachers, and first achievements in developing environmental tourism on October 29.

The event was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), local government and environmental organizations, as well as residents of nearby villages.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia Elguja Khokrishvili and Head of UNDP in Georgia Niels Scott, visited the newly opened touristic tracks and souvenir shops. They also met with the residents of the villages Gurgeniani and Ninogori who plan to be involved in touristic activities.

As the start-up assistance to the environmental tourism, Khokrishvili and Scott presented a collection of souvenirs to the local shop and five horse saddles to the local residents interested in launching horse riding tours.

ADB presents Georgia as regional hub and gateway to Europe

31.10.2014. An International Investment Forum “Georgia – Regional Hub and Asia’s Gateway to Europe” took place in Tbilisi on October 29-30, jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Forum, held at the hotel Radisson Blu Iveria, hosted over 300 guests from diverse sectors and countries, ranging from private, international and domestic companies to large international business associations, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia (AmCham Georgia), the largest international business association in Georgia, with up to 160 members.

Irakli Gharibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, officially opened the Forum saying “Georgia is a rapidly developing democratic country with one of the world’s most attractive business climates, liberal trade, low taxes and strategic location that have turned thr country into the new regional frontier for investment opportunities.”

The PM, in his speech Why Georgia Matters, emphasized Georgia’s role in the region and the importance of the recently signed Association Agreement with the EU, as well as the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area/Agreement (DCFTA), which “opens vast opportunities” for Georgia while turning it into an increasingly important business center in the region.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Tourism and rural development: The case of Tusheti

by Irakli Kochlamazashvili and Adam Pellillo, ISET

24.10.2014. In Georgia, it’s often said that tavisupleba mxolod mtebshia – freedom is only in the mountains. Indeed, the mountains have long shielded the small Georgian nation from much larger invaders, helping it maintain its freedom, as well as its unique culture, language and faith.

Even today, getting into Georgia’s mountains is no easy task. Separated from the ‘mainland’ by the 3,000m high Abano pass, Tusheti, is an excellent case in point. The sheer ‘outworldliness’ of Tusheti, as well as its well-preserved indigenous traditions and architecture, are a powerful motivator for many Georgians and international visitors alike to undertake the bumpy excursion to Omalo (and beyond).

The number of visitors to Tusheti has been growing quite rapidly in recent years, raising an important policy dilemma: what is the “optimal” level of development for this wild region of Georgia? On the one hand, tourism is strengthening the local economy by providing locals with an additional source of income. On the other hand, the arrival of 21 century invaders (in the shape of tourist ‘armies’) will undoubtedly strain the local infrastructure, requiring significant investment in roads, water supply and other utilities. Too much investment may strip Tusheti of its uniqueness. Too little of it may carry risks for health and the environment.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Inside natural wine’s new Eurasian boomtown

Photo: Krzystof Duda
By Alice Feiring

13.10.2014. Over the last decade, the Republic of Georgia—one of the world's oldest winemaking countries—has become an unlikely darling of the natural wine community. Alice Feiring visits the small hilltop town that's become ground zero for the rebirth of traditional Georgian winemaking.

When I told people that I was traveling to Georgia to learn more about their wine, the response was, invariably, a look of confusion. “Are there vineyards near Atlanta?”

“The country of,” I’d say. Then I’d clarify, “Bordered by the Caucasus mountain range, not the Blue Ridge.”

“Really? They make wine there?”

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Analogue to booking.com to be created in Georgia

12.10.2014. In the near future, a website similar to an international tourist web portal booking.com will appear in Georgia, which will give visitors the opportunity to book accommodation before arrival in the country.

This initiative belongs to the recently established Georgian Hotel and Restaurant Federation.

Experts welcome the establishment of such an association and believe that it should play the role of mediator between the government and the tourist industry. According to them, in order tourism business to develop successfully, it is necessary to streamline the tax system and labor laws.

"The government should look at private business as a partner and not an enemy or a cash cow. The Hotel and Restaurants should actively work in this direction, "- experts say.

According to the Federation, its function is to be a bridge between the government and the tourist industry - in particular, in their opinion, a classification of hotels and equal attention is required to large branded hotels as well as to small home-like hotels and hostels.

One of the founders of the Association Shalva Alaverdashvili says that there is a need to improve the quality of services in the tourism sector.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Georgia improves visa policy

09.10.2014. Georgia has decided to bring some corrections to its newly amended visa policy in an effort to keep the right balance between the European Union's requirements and liberal approaches.

Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said the new regulations need some corrections. "Of course, everything new brings certain complications. Not everything can end up as we planned, nevertheless, we know where the weak points are," Panjikidze noted.

The Georgian government has recently amended the law "On the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons", which enacted on September 1. The renewed legislation particularly reduced the period for the foreigners' visa-free stay in the country's territory.

The updated visa regulations enabled Georgia to issue multiple-entry visas with a period of 180 days for the citizens of the countries which apply a visa regime with the South Caucasus country. It also allows the visa holder to stay for a total of 90 days within a period of 180 days in Georgia's territory.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Number of tourists increased by 1% in summer

06.10.2014. This summer (June, July, August), the number of tourists (international travelers staying in Georgia for 24 hours and more) amounted to 892 413 that is 13% (789 958) more than last year's figure. As for international visitors, their number was 1 895 060 in the current year, which is 1% (1 880 515) higher than last summer season (June, July, August) .

In 8 months of 2014, the number of tourists amounted to 1 566 646 (42.5% of the total number, an increase of 12% compared to the same period of the previous year); transit - 698 284 visits (19% of the total number, a 10% decline compared with the previous year's figure); other - 1 420 904 visits (38.5% of the total number, an increase of 0.7% over the same period of the previous year).

In August 2014, the largest number of visitors arrived from Turkey (-5.5%), Azerbaijan (+29%), Armenia (-12,2%), Russia (-7%) and Ukraine (+ 22.9%). Also, the positive trend is maintained in terms of the EU states in January-August, including Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Latvia and the Netherlands (respectively 91%, 40%, 17%, 17%, and 14%), Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan (40%), while fromthe Eastern European countries , for example, Belarus the number of visitors increased by 50%.