Monday, December 21, 2015

Georgia in "Condé Nast Traveler" list of "hottest wine destinations 2016"

21.12.2015 (Hvino News). Georgia is listed in "The Hottest Wine Destinations of 2016" by luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

"The Hottest Wine Destinations of 2016" is a list compiled by Condé Nast Traveler's Laura Giannatempo, published on December 17.

The magazine reads: "We asked some of the country’s top wine experts to tell us where they’re excited to go in the New Year. What we got is the wine lover’s definitive list of regions to explore." About Georgia:

"Georgia — the former Soviet Union country, not the American state, and one of the oldest wine regions in the world — has become a wine hotspot in the past few years. The traditional Georgian method using kvevris — beautiful, amphora-type clay vessels for fermenting, storing, and aging wine underground — is now being replicated by many natural winemakers all over the world. “The land, the history, the culture, the food, the wine, the people—it was one of the most powerful wine trips I’ve ever taken,” says Pascaline Lepeltier, beverage director of Rouge Tomate Chelsea, NYC."

Thursday, December 10, 2015

The World bank: A Tourism Strategy for Georgia – “Country of Life”

10.12.2015. Observing a world map, you will see that Georgia is a small country with a strategic geographic location, resting at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. But how best to really describe it?

The country is often showcased on international television programs, such as CNN’s 9 reasons to visit Georgia now, New York Times’ 52 places to go in 2015, and National Geographic’s Best tours in Europe 2015.

There are numerous literary books and guidebooks about Georgia’s cultural heritage, nature, cuisine (wine, in particular) – all beckoning people to visit the land of the ancient Kolkhis.

Travel agencies entice potential tourists with offers, proposing air companies and routes that are convenient and friendly, and advising on a range of hotels in which to stay, routes to pursue, and places to visit – whether in the country’s famous mountains or valleys.

Perhaps Georgia is best described as the “Country of Life” – a motto coined by Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA), and which can be found on a wide variety of gifts and tourist products.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Georgia once again in focus of Vogue magazine

04.12.2015. (Hvino News). Just a couple months ago Hvino News reported about American Vogue magazine's mentioning Georgian wine on top of the Vogue's list of orange wines (read more: Vogue magazine lists Georgian Iago's Chinuri as number one orange wine).

On December 2 Georgia appears again in the focus of Vogue's attention. This time the renown magazine goes further in exploration of Georgia. Vogue published five reasons why one should visit Georgia, in the article “Why Georgia (the country) is the secret gem of Europe”.

The author Liana Satenstein starts her article with a direct call to action:
"This holiday season, forget the plane ticket to Milan. Cancel Berlin. And don’t bother with London. Instead, head to Georgia".
The first of Vogue's reasons is Georgian food and wine:
Over the past few years, a wave of Georgian restaurants have become a hit stateside... And there is no doubt about why this Eastern European cuisine has crossed the Atlantic.... Georgian wine—it’s fermented in a kvevri, a B.C. tradition that involves a clay vessel buried far underground.
Besides delicacies such as khachapuri ("bread is in the shape of a pinched boat, stuffed and baked with a traditional Georgian cheese called suluguni"), other attractions listed by Vogue include Georgian ballet, sulfur baths, and Tbilisi's architecture. A little bit oversimplified list, in our view, but anyway thanks to Vogue for covering Georgia.

We hope the readers who will visit Georgia will report many other really unique attractive features of Georgia, and discover that it is a gem indeed.

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

IFC funds one of Georgia’s first three-star branded hotels

26.11.2015.  (Hvino News). IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a $7 million loan to a wholly owned subsidiary of m2 Real Estate to build one of the first three-star internationally branded hotels in Georgia, helping create jobs, meet growing demand for quality hospitality infrastructure, and spur broader economic growth.

Tourism and travel is one of Georgia’s fastest growing sectors, and a key generator of jobs. Yet the budget and mid-market hotel segments are particularly underserved, resulting in a large gap between supply and demand. In funding the construction of a Ramada Encore Hotel in Tbilisi, IFC’s loan to JSC m2 Real Estate’s wholly owned subsidiary aims to address this gap.

”Building on our successful cooperation with IFC over years, with this new project we plan to contribute to improving Georgia’s hospitality infrastructure and cater to the growing demand for travel in the country,” said Irakli Burdiladze, Chief Executive Officer, m2 Real Estate.

The 152-room hotel is the first step in JSC m2 Real Estate’s plan to build more than 300 affordable hotel rooms in Tbilisi and, potentially, other cities of Georgia. In addition, the hotel plans to use using energy efficient technologies to reduce power use.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Georgia's wine and tourism agencies briefed journalists on first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism

13.11.2015 (Hvino News) Yesterday in Tbilisi the the heads of the National Tourism Administration and National Wine Agency - Giorgi Chogovadze and Giorgi Samanishvili - held a joint press conference regarding the first Global Conference on Wine Tourism, planned for 2016 in Georgia.

The wine conference will be held under the auspices of United Nations's World Tourism Organization - UNWTO.

As announced last moth at UNWTO event in London, the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in Georgia’s Kakheti wine region on September 7-9, 2016 (read more here). The activity is part of the UNWTO Gastronomy Network plan of action.

The representatives of Georgia's wine and tourism agencies briefed the journalists at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel on the conference project details, and answered the questions.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Georgia to host UNWTO’s 1st Global Conference on Wine Tourism in 2016

05.11.2015 (Hvino News) Wine tourism is set to really take off next year after it was announced that the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in Georgia’s Kakheti wine region from Sept. 7-9, 2016.

The 1st UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism was officially launched by UNWTO and the Georgian National Tourism Administration on the occasion of the World Travel Market in London. The activity is part of the UNWTO Gastronomy Network plan of action.

The UNWTO and the Georgian National Tourism Administration made the announcement at World Travel Market session. As explained by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, who led the presentation with the head of Georgian National Tourism Administration, George Chogovadze, and the Georgian Ambassador to Spain, Zurab Pololikashvili, “Wine tourism represents a growing segment with immense opportunities to diversify demand. In the case of Georgia, this potential is well known as we are very pleased to be holding the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the country.”

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Indian visitations to Georgia register 81% growth during first nine months of 2015

03.11.2015 (Hvino News).Georgia Tourism holds first roadshow in India in partnership with Air Arabia.

There has been a commendable growth of 81% in Indian inbound to Georgia during the first nine of this year, compared to 3,792 Indian arrivals during the same period in 2014. According to Georgia National Tourism Administration (GNTA), they welcomed 6,869 Indian passport holders from January to September, 2015. Speaking to TravelBiz Monitor on the sidelines of the roadshow jointly organized by GNTA and Air Arabia, George Chogovadze, Head of Administration, GNTA, said that the Indian arrival figures have been encouraging since Air Arabia commenced operations to Tbilisi last year.

Chogovadze said that GNTA’s efforts are to create more awareness about the destination, especially the MICE potential of destinations like Tbilisi and Batumi. “We have hosted 18 travel writers from India to Georgia last year. We will continue to organize FAM trips for media and travel agents to make the tourism potential of Georgia known in India,” he said. Chogovadze said that Georgia is a small country, but diverse in terms of topography, climate, etc. “We have mountains, ski resorts, beaches, wildlife, etc.  Cultural tour is quite popular. Georgia is a cradle of wines with 8,000 years of wine heritage,” he said.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

AXIS' tallest skyscrapers in Tiblisi to house Pullman Hotel

27.10.2015 (Hvino News). The Georgian Co-Investment Fund (GCF), a USD6 billion private equity fund based in Georgia, and Georgian construction company AXIS are to build Axis Towers, twin skyscrapers which, when complete, will be the tallest buildings in Tiblisi.

The glass tower will house a five-star Pullman hotel and will additionally feature an A-class business centre with 15,000 sq m of office space. Meanwhile, the stone tower will comprise of 15,000 sq m of residential property, featuring apartments with impressive views of Tbilisi. The tower will be equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to create the maximum comfort for its residents.

GCF will own 50 per cent of the completed development, while the other 50 per cent will be held by AXIS.

The multifunctional complex consists of two 147 metre tall, 41-storey towers, four floors of which will be underground. One tower will be glazed with dark glass, while the other will feature white stone cladding. The total buildable area of the towers equals 94,000 sq m.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Sheraton Grand to be opened in Tbilisi

21.102015 (Hvino News). Sheraton Grand will be the news name of  te hotel located in Old Tbilisi. The hotel is under renovation currently.

George Gegechkori, director of Ras Al Khaimah Investment (RAKIA) said that presentation of the project will be held in November, while reconstruction of the hotel would be finished in autumn 2016. As he noted, exterior of the hotel will be merely renovated. Redesigning of the hotel is not envisaged by the project, in order not to drop out the building from the ensemble of the city.

Number of hotel rooms will be increased from 150 to 220. This will be the sole hotel with the innovative ball room in Tbilisi, which will be able to host the biggest events.

RAKIA Georgia is owned by Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi,  Sheikh of Ras Al Khaimah emirate, who also owns holds Tbilisi Mall.

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Friday, October 9, 2015

Georgia in Lonely Planet's "Ten world’s most intriguing wine regions"

09.10.2015. (Hvino News). Travel guides publishing house Lonely Planet included Georgia in its recently published list "Ten of the world’s most intriguing wine regions".  Lonely Planet’s new book Wine Trails plots a course through 52 of the world’s greatest wine regions, with weekend-long itineraries in each designed by expert writers, including wine buyers and sommeliers.

"We’ve picked out 10 of the most intriguing regions to show why tasting wine in the place it was made can be a revelation", - reads the article posted by Lonely Planet. Georgia's Kakheti region is listed between Mendoza (Argentina) and Niagara (Canada):
Kakheti, Georgia
The Georgian wine experience is like no other. The story of wine here is so old, so real, that it can make what we know of ancient Greece and Rome seem like recent history. Georgia is widely recognised as the land where man first learned to tame the wild grapevine, around 6000BC. In most of the country, winemaking technology has changed little since then. Grapes are still harvested by hand, and foot-pressed in the hollowed-out trunks of ancient trees. The juice flows into underground clay amphoras, where it ferments and matures without additives or manipulation.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Wine mapping project launched on Georgian Wine Day!

04.10.2015. Greetings to all friends of Georgian wine! To mark the Georgian Wine Day, today Hvino is starting our Georgian wine mapping project.

Hvino Map  is an experimental project, where users are mapping the important wine places of Georgia. Hvino Map is already fully usable. It will be updated every week, becoming richer and more comprehensive with time.  It can be used on any desktop or mobile devices, both Apple and Android. Direct link to map is here.

You are welcome to add a new object, such as winery, cellar, wine shop, hotel or other place useful for visitors. Users also may update and correct locations if necessary. If you want to edit the map, see instructions in the bottom. Also please report us about all problems or bugs, so we will fix them.

View current Hvino Map below...
... or click HERE for full size view 
  • To use on any mobile device, go to: bit.do/hvino.
  • To edit the map, see instructions in the bottom.



How to edit Hvino Map:

To simplify editing and avoid errors, we use separate Google map for user's submissions. To add your object, use the map below and follow instructions:

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Georgia earns $766m from international tourism

02.10.2015. Hundreds of millions of dollars has been injected into the Georgian economy through international tourism.

As the number of tourists to Georgia increased, the country experienced more benefits, said the National Tourism Administration.

Today the Administration published data stating international tourism revenue reached $460 million USD in the second quarter (Q2) of 2015, which was $30.4 million or seven percent more than in the same period of 2014.

In the first six months of the year Georgia earned $766.4 million USD directly from international tourism. This was almost three percent more year-on-year (y/y).

In the six-month period the value added to the tourism sector increased by 17.3 percent and reached 480 million GEL.

Between January and June 2015, tourists spent more than 300 million GEL on their foreign bank cards, which was an annual increase of more than 100 million GEL or 38 percent.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Sharjah set to promote its tourism landmarks in Georgia, Russia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan

30.09.2015 (Hvino News) Following the successful participation in a promotional tour to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in the Commonwealth of Independent States, organised earlier this month by the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced another series of road shows to Georgia, Russia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan from September 29 to October 2. During the tour, SCTDA will promote Sharjah's latest tourism developments under the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 that aims to attract 10 million tourists by 2021.

The delegation for the road show is headed by HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General of SCTDA, includes representatives from Air Arabia, Sharjah Airport travel agency (SATA), Copthorne Hotel Sharjah, Ramada Sharjah, Golden Tulip Hotel Apartments, and Khalidiya Travel & Tourism. A number of workshops and meetings will be organised with representatives and decision makers in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in the cities of Almaty, Moscow, Yerevan and Tbilisi.

Commenting on the participation, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, said the promotional tours are part of the Authority's strategy to shed light on the diversity of Sharjah's tourism product in order to strengthen its position as a leading global tourist destination. The road shows will help attract a large number of tourists to Sharjah from key markets around the world, apart from the emerging markets that contribute to the huge tourist inflow to the emirate every year.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi: Five star facility “enclave” in Tbilisi

28.09.2015. A new lake and a fascinating waterfall is but a small list of some of the facilities that Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi will be constructing in its surrounding area soon. The management is focused on expanding its five star facilities outside of the Hotel’s walls and bringing a new experience to every Georgian, especially residents of the local district. With head offices in Paris and Shanghai the hotel is actively involved in promoting Georgia on foreign markets. Increasing the number of direct flights, as well as active participation in international exhibitions, are the key suggestions the hotel has for Georgian officials to raise awareness of Georgia abroad.

Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi is a five star hotel with a French touch located on the shorelines of the famous Tbilisi Sea. Just two months since opening, the Hotel has become a popular location not only for business meetings and conferences, but also for wedding receptions.

The Financial interviewed Petter Lillvik, General Manager at Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi. In his exclusive interview, Lillvik talked about the international experience that the company is bringing to the Georgian hospitality industry. He gave suggestions for how to raise the popularity of Georgia as a travel destination.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Visitor numbers on the rise in Georgia

27.09.2015. Georgian tourism is once again on the rise as the latest statistics show that the number of foreign visitors have increased.

About 4 million international arrivals were registered in Georgia in the last eight months, the Policy and Management Consultation Group (PMCG) Research Centre has announced.

According to data from the organisation, 3 922 376 people have crossed the Georgian border in the January - August 2015 period. This is an increase of 5.9% over the same period last year.

“The growing number of visitors (tourists, one-day visits and transit) to Georgia is important for the further development of the country’s tourism sector, as well as for increasing the inflow of foreign money,” the PMCG Research Centre emphasized in a statement.

During previous years the July – September periods has been the busiest in regards to tourism. A similar tendency was visible in 2015, as 40.5% of all international arrivals were registered in the July – August period, with September’s figures yet to be added. This figure is likely to mirror the pattern of previous years, the PMCG report concluded.


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Monday, September 7, 2015

Number of Travelers Increased by 6% in 2015

07.09.2015. Georgia hosted 3,922,376 international visitors during the first eight months of 2015. The number is 219,699 (or 6%) more than the figure from the same period of the previous year. With a total of 944,029 visitors to Georgia, Armenians make up the majority of foreign travellers in Georgia. They are followed by Azerbaijanis, Turks and Russians.

According to the data of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, a total of 3,922,376 tourists visited Georgia during January-August of the current year. Of this, 1,573,888 spent 24 or more hours in the country, down from 1,576,091 from the previous year’s data. Additionally, 944,604 people came to Georgia as a transit stop this year. This was a 35 percent increase from the same time last year.

From January to August 2015 visitors from Georgia’s neighbouring countries continued to flock to Georgia on holiday. 944,029 Armenians visited Georgia this year, up from 825,344, or 14% more than the same period of the previous year. Azerbaijani tourist numbers rose by 8% and reached 932,054. Guests from Russia amounted to 642,755, up from 560,476, or 15% more. Turkey holds third place by number of visitors to Georgia. However, guest numbers from Turkey have dropped by 6% this year and totaled 926,755.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Le Méridien to debut in Batumi, Georgia

03.09.2015 (Hvino News) Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., in partnership with Red-Co Ltd, today announced that its Paris-born Le Méridien brand will open in Batumi, the brand’s first location in the Republic of Georgia. Scheduled to open in 2018, the 110-room newly constructed hotel will showcase modern architecture and design within the iconic Batumi Tower, a mixed-use development project that also includes a casino and unbranded residences. Designed by the Hausart Project, the landmark Batumi Tower is the tallest structure in the city and features a unique eight-cabin carousel wheel on the 27th floor.

“Le Méridien Batumi will join our Sheraton Batumi and Sheraton Metechi Palace hotels in the Republic of Georgia, and will be a great addition to the vibrant city of Batumi.”

“We thank the owners, Red-Co Ltd, for putting their trust in Starwood, and we look forward to a long and successful working relationship with them,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Le Méridien promises to ‘unlock’ each destination it enters for its guests and this hotel will inspire creative and curious minded travelers to discover the culture, the arts and cuisine of Batumi.”

Georgia attracts 10% more tourists in August

03.09.2015.  Georgia is continuing to experience growth in tourism; more visitors crossed the state border the last month than previous years.

Latest figures revealed there were 852,377 visitors to Georgia in August 2015 – a 10 percent increase on the same period in 2014.

Today the Information-Analytical Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented statistical data, which noted out of 852,377 visitors 383,619 were tourists. That was a two present increase year-on-year (y/y).

Meanwhile last month 383,619 visitors used Georgia as a transit country - a 54 percent increase y/y.

The remaining 243,765 people came for other purposes, such as business, which was a 3.5 percent increase compared to 2014.

Statistic showed most guests who visited Georgia last month came from Turkey, which was a 10 percent increase y/y, while the number of guests from Azerbaijan also increased 7.5 percent. The next highest number of visitors were from Armenia (24.7 percent more), followed by Russia (23 percent more) and Ukraine (5.6 percent more).

Monday, August 31, 2015

Another Turkish airline enters Georgia’s air market

31.08.2015. More planes will be flying between Georgian and Turkish skies when another Turkish airline enters the Georgian market.

From September 4 Istanbul-based airline Bora Jet Airlines will operate flights from Turkey’s Istanbul to Georgia’s seaside resort town Batumi.

The Istanbul-Batumi-Istanbul flights will be performed three times per week.

Georgia’s Economy Ministry has already issued permission for Bora Jet Airlines to begin the flight service.

Several Turkish airline companies already operate in the Georgian market including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Atlas Jet and now Bora Jet Airlines.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seaside resort areas are enjoying growing visitor numbers thanks to an increase in international flights.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Prime Minister opens Coliseum-shaped hotel in Batumi, visits another hotel construction site

20.08.2015 (Hvino TOUR News). New five star luxury hotel has opened in Georgia’s costal city of Batumi, in Georgia's western Adjara region. The five-star  Colosseum Marina Hotel resembles the elliptical amphitheater of ancient Rome.

The construction of the hotel began in March 2013 and Mari Group invested $14 million to build the 10-storey hotel with 101 rooms, all with a view of the Black Sea coastline. The facility has a total area of 14,427 m sq.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili opened the Colosseum Marina Hotel today with representatives of the local government. “This year 20 projects of new hotels are ongoing in Batumi, in total an amount of $700 million has been invested. This indicates that demand is growing and the numbers of tourists are increasing in Batumi and in the region itself. Tourism is growing in Georgia and it is necessary for the state to support and encourage business,” Garibashvili said.

Monday, August 17, 2015

The Georgian supra

17.08.2015. In the amazing country of Georgia, a supra (Georgian: სუფრა) is a traditional Georgian feast and an important part of Georgian social culture. Georgian wine (some of the finest in the world!) flows freely and several to several dozens of courses of food come out throughout the night, followed by dancing. A supra can go until 2 or 3 in the morning!

There are two types of supra: a festive supra (ლხინის სუფრა), called a keipi, and a sombre supra (ჭირის სუფრა), called a kelekhi, that is always held after burials.

In Georgian, “supra” means “tablecloth”. It’s likely related to the Arabic sofra (سفرة) and Turkish sofra, which are both words for traditional eating surfaces. Large public meals are never held in Georgia without a supra; when there are no tables, the supra is laid on the ground.

At a supra, toasting is a high art and I believe Georgians have elevated it more than any other culture in the world! What follows is how that toasting process, contest and history are all showcased during a supra.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Georgia offers more flights, fresh routes to new destinations

10.08.2015. With the summer aviation season now in full swing, Georgia is offering more flights into and out of the country.

Local airline Georgian Airways is adding two more directions to its existing routes until the end of the 2015 summer season.

One of the new routes will see Georgian Airways perform flights to Rostov, Russia twice per week from August 14.

The other new route, between Georgia’s capital Tbilisi and Iraq’s capital Baghdad, launched at the end of last week. The first flight took place on August 8 and operated once per week.

These two flight services have already been approved by Georgian Civil Aviation Agency.

Meanwhile flights between Georgia and the Iranian capital Tehran have recently resumed. From August 7 Iranian airline ATA Airlines performed the first Tbilisi-Tehran flight this summer season. This service will operate twice per week for the remainder of summer.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Memorandum of understanding between GNTA and Korea Tourism Organization

07.08.2015. (Hvino News). With active involvement of the Embassy of Georgia in the Republic of Korea, on July 24th, 2015 the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Georgian National Tourism Administration and Korea Tourism Organization in Seoul, Korea.

From Georgian side, the document was signed by the Georgian Ambassador in the Republic of Korea, Mr. Nikoloz Apkhazava. The Memorandum aims to strengthen ties between the two countries, support the exchange of information and contribute to efforts of increasing the flow of tourists.

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Saturday, July 11, 2015

Georgian officials demand stronger national carrier

11.07.2015. Senior officials in the airport and tourism business in Georgia are pushing national carrier AirZena Georgian Airways to take a much more active role in enhancing direct air connectivity from the country to support growing demand. In discussions at the Routes Silk Road forum in the country’s capital city, Tbilisi, the national entity was labelled as a ‘weak’ operator that has failed to support Georgia’s wider development needs.

Initially established in September 1994 under the AirZena brand, the carrier provided charter flights to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, China, Egypt, India, Syria and regular scheduled flights to Austria. It was granted national carrier status in November 1999 and latterly the Georgian Airways title has been added.

In the past four weeks the carrier has introduced three new regional destinations to its route network from Tbilisi International Airport with flights to the Russian city of St Petersburg, the Armenian capital Yerevan and most recently the Ukrainian Black Sea destination of Odessa. These build upon a new link from the Georgian capital to the Russian city of Samara and seasonal services to Paris that were introduced earlier this year, but officials believe there is significant further growth opportunities.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Airline experts in Tbilisi for Routes Silk Road 2015

06.07.2015. (Hvino News) Representatives from about 40 airlines, 50 airports and 200 tourism authorities from the Silk Road region are in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi to discuss ways to expand the aviation industry and better connect countries in the wider region.

Routes Silk Road 2015 is the route development forum that connects CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia. Located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Georgia is a bridge connecting several important economic regions including Europe, the Newly Independent States (NIS), Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia region. Its geographic location makes the country the transportation hub for commerce and job creation.

For the second time Tbilisi is hosting the Routes Silk Road 2015 aviation forum, which is the only route development forum that connects CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asian countries.

United Airports of Georgia (UAG) is hosting the international forum with support from the Georgian National Tourism Administration. During the three-day event, which began on July 5, participants will discuss key aviation issues such as air traffic and regional tourism development in the Routes Silk Road Strategy Summit section of the event, while the second part of the forum will be dedicated to meetings where representatives of airlines will discuss future cooperation and plan new air routes.

Friday, July 3, 2015

World Bank supports improved tourism infrastructure in Georgia

03.07.2015. The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved on July 1 an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan in the amount of US$60 million to Georgia for the Third Regional Development Project.

The project objective is to improve infrastructure services and institutional capacity to support increased contribution of tourism in the local economy of the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti regions, according to the World Bank.

The project includes two components: i) urban regeneration and tourism circuit development and provision of public infrastructure to attract private investments, and ii) institutional development.

“The main beneficiaries of the project are the residents and tourists in Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions, who will have access to improved public and tourism infrastructure in renovated cities cultural heritage sites,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus. “The goal is to attract private investments, promote public-private partnerships, revitalize local business activity, and develop regional tourism circuits. Owing to these improvements, the population of the region is expected to see an improved quality of life.”

Thursday, July 2, 2015

"Mashable" on Georgian wine: This former Soviet republic is the next big food and wine destination

by Susan Shain

02.07.2015. When you arrive at the airport in Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia, the passport control agent hands you a bottle of wine to welcome you.

I’ve traveled to many countries, and have never once received a gift upon arrival — especially none so delicious or storied as Georgian wine.

I took it as a sign I would enjoy traveling in Georgia. And I was right.

The Republic of Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, straddles the divide between Europe and Asia and has a population of almost 4 million. Its borders are created by the Caucasus Mountains and Russia to the north, the Black Sea to the west, Armenia and Turkey to the south, and Azerbaijan to the east.

For a country roughly the size of West Virginia, Georgia is home to an astonishing number of indigenous grapes Georgia is home to an astonishing number of indigenous grapes, with more than 500. (To put that into perspective, there are only 2,000 grape varieties in the whole world.)

Sunday, June 21, 2015

"The Korea Herald": Georgia trumpets status as the jewel of Caucasus

Amb. Apkhazava (center) with GNTA
staff at Coex  / The Korea Herald

by Joel Lee

21.06.2015. Georgia has described itself as the hidden tourist gem of the Caucasus for many years.

Aided by government-led promotion and online marketing, tourists from around the world are opening their eyes to the country’s treasure trove of attractions.

Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia has had cultural interactions with neighboring Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey for centuries. As a result, the tourism experience is multifaceted and multilayered, offering a mix of historic sightseeing, religious tours, cultural events, winemaking, spa-bathing and caving.

Georgia has an extremely diverse climate and terrain, from the Black Sea coast to the Caucasus Mountains, and from alpine meadows to semi-deserts, valleys and wetlands. Visitors can go skiing, paragliding, horseback riding, rafting, biking, hiking and ballooning.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

How to help those affected by Tbilisi flooding: Bank transfer information

For international friends who wish to assist those affected by Tbilisi flooding we are re-posting the bank account details in two Georgia's banks - Liberty Bank and TBC.




At least 13 people are dead and 11 missing after severe flooding in the Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

The Finance Ministry has preliminary estimated the flood damage at over $20 million.

The United Nations has issued a special statement regarding the recent events: "The United Nations in Georgia is deeply saddened by the loss of life as a result of the devastating flood in Tbilisi caused by the heavy rainfalls that hit the country on 14 June 2015. The United Nations expresses sincere condolences to the people and Government of Georgia, especially the families of those who have died, been injured or otherwise affected in this disaster". 

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Schuchmann Wines launches new tourism initiative

11.06.2015. Alongside with wine-making, viticulture, gastronomic and tourist business, Schuchmann Wines has started a new tourist initiative which will be presented on the market as Schuchmann Travel. The new touristic direction will be generally aimed at the inflow of tourists. Schuchmann Wines has become a leading touristic destination in Kakheti region and a top boutique winery internationally.

Schuchmann Wines' CEO Nutsa Abramishvili: “We have become partners and regional representative of a world leading tour operator. Our aim is to bring in tourists to the country and export Georgian tourist potential to such markets where Georgia is exotic and interesting as a tourist destination. During the past months we’ve been actively working on the creation of corresponding products. Our goal is to promote the development of a priority sector for Georgia – tourism, and the popularization of Georgian tourist destinations on foreign markets. We have created wine and gastronomic tour packages which generally include our main direction, such as wine and gastronomic tourism. We have started working on a niche product such as “wine and gastronomy” as well as other interesting tourist directions. The interest is high, and Georgia has huge potential in this sector.”

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Friday, May 29, 2015

Tourist boom in Georgia and Azerbaijan helps mitigate low oil prices

by Giorgi Meladze*

29.05.2015. Georgia and Azerbaijan, two South Caucasus countries that offer breath-taking natural beauty, architectural treasures and rich histories, are going all-out to develop their tourism industries, writes Giorgi Meladze.

In petroleum-rich Azerbaijan’s case, tourism development is helping it counter a drop in oil prices that many experts say will last for years. In Georgia, tourism is helping offset a drop in business stemming from its neighbors' oil-revenue declines.

The multibillion-dollar investments that Georgia, Azerbaijan and their private-sector partners are making in tourism infrastructure and promotion are paying off with surges in visitor numbers.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Can 2015 be Georgian cuisine's breakout year?

Jenny Holm

27.05.2015. For most Westerners, the states of the former Soviet Union bring to mind something of a culinary wasteland. Blame the Gulag, Cold War-era propaganda, and black and white photos of miles-long bread lines: whatever the source, our associations tend toward "bleak," "frozen," and "scarce." That's why Georgia's rich culinary traditions often come as a surprise to visitors, who tend to expect something more, well, proletarian.

Georgia's government has been working hard to shift foreigners' expectations about the nation's cuisine and to promote it as a "must-taste" destination for food and wine tourists through participation in international tourism and wine fairs, wine tastings, and distribution of plenty of swag. Yet as a small country with a big (and much better-known) bear on its back, it's an uphill battle. The fact that Georgia shares its name with a U.S. state further complicates matters in North America.

Not surprisingly, most international visitors to Georgia come from the neighboring countries of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine. Georgia's National Tourism Administration (GNTA) has focused its marketing efforts thus far on slightly farther-flung places with which Georgia has direct flight connections, particularly in Europe and Israel. Teona Nanava, chief specialist in the brand development department of the GNTA, told me in a conversation late last year that they hope to expand their presence in the U.S. soon.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

World Economic Forum assesses Georgia’s travel & tourism competitiveness

16.05.2015. Georgia has been ranked in the top three countries in the region for being a tourism-friendly country.

Georgia placed 71st out of 141 countries in the latest Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report released by the World Economic Forum.

Spain topped the list of the most tourist-friendly countries, followed by France and Germany while Guinea and Chad were at the bottom of the list.

Regionally Turkey was found to be the most travel-friendly country with a ranking of 44th, followed by Russia in 45th place then Georgia in 71st place. Azerbaijan gained 84th place, Armenia came 89th and Iran placed 97th. Georgia ranked ahead of Egypt and Israel.

Georgia gained a score of 3.7 in the travel and tourism competitiveness pillar, the index was expressed using a scale of 1-7, where 1 was the worst and 7 was the best, across 90 indicators. The report assessed 141 economies.

Georgia ranked 32nd best in the world for its business environment, with a score of 4.9. Georgia also placed 32nd for business safety and security with its higher score of 6.0.

In terms of health and hygiene, Georgia placed 31st of 141 surveyed countries with a score of 6.1, which was the country’s best result in the whole report.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

French Compagnie de Vichy to invest in Georgian spa resort of Tskaltubo

28.04.2015. The French Compagnie de Vichy, owner of the Vichy Spa Hotel Les Celestins, expressed interest in Tskaltubo Spa Resort project - Prime Minister said in  Tskaltubo where he familiarized with  Cold Lake infrastructure.

According to Irakli Garibashvili, Tskaltubo is a unique, internationally recognized resort and the government has developed a  long-term resort development plan.

According to him, investor interest in Tskaltubo is growing every day.

Prime Minister instructed the  Partnership Fund (PF) to study  the prospects of Tskaltubo development  and announced expression of interest for a number of investment projects.

The government's press service reports that in the frames of  the  Tskaltubo rehabilitation project, small-size buildings were  built in the area of Cold Lake as well as   the irrigation system  was arranged, green cover was updated and cleaned on the territory of the central park and Cold Lake.


    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Friday, April 24, 2015

Let tourists arrive and Georgia thrive!

24.04.2015. The contribution of tourism to world gross domestic product (GDP) is just 3%, and the economies of countries where tourism accounts for a big share of the GDP often perform poorly. The most notorious case is Greece, where in 2011 tourism generated 18% of GDP ($15 billion dollars in absolute terms), and whose economy is, as everyone knows, totally on the skids. Another example is Spain – while being struck disastrously by the European economic crisis, the country can boast the second highest tourism revenues in the world, amounting to $60.4 billion dollars in 2013 (or about 6% of Spanish GDP).

Even if one disregards that tourism-centered economies are often weak, the absolute size of the tourism contributions are not that impressive. Economists typically talk about billions of dollars, sometimes about trillions, like astronomers talk about light years – so what the heck is so exciting about $60.4 billion? In 2012, the Spanish telecommunications provider Telefonica, one single company, generated revenues of about $85 billion, almost $25 billion more than Spain’s entire tourism sector. And this turnover was generated with just 275,000 employees, whereas 2 million Spaniards are working in tourism. Interpreting these numbers is hazy, because we do not know what value is added by the Telefonica personnel (portions of the revenues, both in tourism and in telecommunications, account for preliminary products), but there can be no doubt that production (and hence average incomes) in telecommunications are much higher than in tourism.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Greek low-cost airline Ellinair announces Georgia flights

23.04.2015. New flights from Georgia to some of the world’s most exotic destinations are ahead as more airline companies pledge to enter the Georgian aviation market.

Several low-cost airlines recently announced to begin flights into and out of Georgia; first Pegasus Airlines of Turkey and today Ellinair of Greece.

The Greek low-cost airline said it would begin flights to Georgia from June 8, allowing passengers to use the Georgia-Greece route once per week.

Ellinair, based at Macedonia International Airport, addressed Georgia’s Civil Aviation Agency on April 7, 2015 and asked permission to launch direct flights between Georgia and Greece.

Meanwhile, after the winter season break, Israel’s Israir Airlines has returned to the Georgian air market. The company’s first flight this summer season was performed on April 2 between Tbilisi and Tel Aviv, Israel. The arriving flight to Georgia, an A320 aircraft, brought 174 passengers to Tbilisi – all of whom were tourists, announced Georgia’s Ministry of Economy.

London fair showcases traditional Georgian food, wine

22.04.2015. Londoners interested in tasting food from foreign lands are invited to attend a special fair in central London this weekend.

The Duke of York Square Saturday Market is hosting an event called Taste Georgia on Saturday, which will offer Georgian national wine, traditional meals such askhinkali, khachapuri and bread baked in a circular clay oven called tone.

"Go along and learn more about unique Georgian food and wine and taste some of the traditional Georgian dishes in pop-up restaurants,” said the British Embassy in Tbilisi in a statement.

Taste Georgia will start at 10am and continue until 6pm. The event is being organised by Enterprise Georgia in cooperation with the British Georgian Chamber of Commerce, Georgia’s Embassy to the United Kingdom and the British Embassy in Tbilisi.

As well as tasting Georgian food and wine, visitors will also be able to talk with Georgia’s British population and learn more about the ancient country and culture.


    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Monday, April 13, 2015

“Unsung corner of the planet”: Georgia in National Geographic's list of best tours

13.04.2015. The National Geographic published list of Best Tours in Europe in its Traveler Magazine's 2015 Tours of a Lifetime. Along with Italy, France, Croatia, Switzerland, Scotland, and others, the list also includes Georgia - particularly Alaverdi, Kakheti region.

"Monks at the ancient Alaverdi Monastery still ferment wine the way their order has for a millennium, in earthenware vessels buried in the ground. Taste the fruits of their labor on a culinary odyssey led by Max Johnson, the travel outfitter’s founder, whose passion for this unsung corner of the planet is contagious", - the article in The National Geographic reads.

Georgian Economy minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili discussed this news with the media. “I want to share some very good news with you... The decision to include Georgia into the top tourism destinations has already been made by the National Geographic Traveler and in my opinion this will help Georgia to develop its tourism industry and to improve the country’s image among world travellers.”

National Geographic Traveler is a magazine that launched in 1984 by the National Geographic Society in the United States. It is one of the most popular travel media in the world and is published in 20 countries in ten languages.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Hilton: Georgia needs a 5-year tourism development plan

Interview with Stuart Nelson, General Manager at Hilton Batumi

What are your expectations after the opening of the “Hilton“  hotel  in Batumi ? What are your plans in this regard?

I would be happy to say that after the opening of the hotel will be able to rest, but alas, it will not work – we will continue to develop, conduct training, correct any flaws with one main purpose – to meet the needs of our guests, and even exceed them.

Batumi and  Georgia as a whole  is a very good new market for “Hilton”. In Georgia, there are a lot of very positive and interesting traditions – hospitality, wine, delicious cuisine, so we will do everything in order to develop them, so that a new and exciting time awaits us.

We have a lot of plans, but still I cannot talk about them in detail. For example, we intend to open a Georgian restaurant, the products for which we’ll  buy from local farmers.

And it is  just the beginning.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Wizz Air in-flight magazine features Georgian wine

05.04.2015 (Hvino News). WIZZ is the in-flight magazine published by Hungarian airline Wizz Air. In its recent issues WIZZ Magazine published articles related to Georgia: "Georgia: Here Wine Lives" (in February's issue) and "Georgia is on our minds" (in April's issue).

The article on Georgian wine by Sarah May Grunwald reads: "It's at the Georgian table that travelers truly experience Georgian culture. It's the link they share today with their Neolithic ancestors. Drinking Georgian wine is remembering our collective past".

The article, marked as promotion, is important for reaching to the passengers of Wizz Air - the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe. Readership of its in-flight magazine is assessed as up to 2.8 million readers, for every issue. WIZZ Magazine is placed onboard flights to more than 96 destinations on more than 300 routes.

Wizz Air serves several flights connecting Georgia's Kutaisi airport with East European cities, including Budapest, Vilnius, and Kiev.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Monday, March 30, 2015

"The New York Times": Mountains, monasteries and plenty of wine

by Genevieve Helliwell

30.03.2015. In recent edition of  The New York Times, self-described ‘Frugal Traveler’ Seth Kugel has written about his unique experience in Georgia – from his stay with a local guesthouse to sampling Georgian wine from traditional qvevri (clay pots), eating an abundance of delicious food and being taken on personal tours visiting monasteries and vineyards in Georgia’s Kakheti wine region.

Published in the Travel section of The New York Times online and print editions, Kugel’s piece lovingly describes the friendliness of the Georgian people, the magnificence of ancient churches and the affordability of his Georgian adventure – essential for any frugal traveler, he says.
My visit to Georgia was in the off-season — often a great way to save, of course. But it turns out that the ancient Christian land and former Soviet republic is an amazingly cheap place to go year-round, perfect for frugal travelers who like their bumpy bus rides to end with quality meals and private rooms. With that you get the mountain villages, historic towns, centuries-old monasteries, an intriguing cuisine and lots of good, affordable wine (often less than $10 for a decent bottle on restaurant menus).”
Source

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Friday, March 20, 2015

"Travel Weekly": Drinking in Georgia's rustic charms

by Felicity Long

20.03.2015. You would never have known it was 3 a.m. in Georgia's Tbilisi Airport when our Lufthansa plane landed. Flights were arriving and departing, passport control was packed and the airport was brightly lit.

In fact, most air service in and out of Georgia takes place in the middle of the night, and locals are clearly used to these arrivals, for, like the airport, the Holiday Inn Tbilisi was fully staffed and busy when I checked in.

Admittedly, these quirky arrival times, along with a few other drawbacks we encountered in the days to follow such as long stretches of roads without basic amenities and an unsophisticated tourism infrastructure, could be an issue for the casual or inexperienced Europe visitor.

For the right traveler, however, these inconveniences are minor in return for what Georgia has to offer: ancient castles and churches as beautiful as anything in Italy and France, but without the crowds; a wine culture of increasing international renown; a stellar cuisine; and a warm reception from locals, who seem to have hospitality in their DNA.

"We know this is an unusual trip," said Max Johnson, founder and head of product development for the Great Canadian Travel Co., which, together with the Georgian National Tourism Administration and Living Roots, an inbound travel company, arranged the itinerary.

"We know travel agents may have only one or two clients who are looking for new, interesting programs like this, and we focus on them," he said.

Wine culture

The biggest draw for most of us, and the reason Georgia is slowly making its way onto mainstream radar, is its wine, which we sampled during a prelunch wine tasting at Vino-Underground, a wine cellar in Tbilisi.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Georgian Airways to resume flights to Saint Petersburg, Samara and Vladikavkaz

19.03.2015. Georgian Airways plans to resume direct flights to Saint Petersburg, Samara and Vladikavkaz in April-May. A related bid was sent to the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia, TASS reports.According to preliminary information, flights to Samara will be made four times a week, to Saint Petersburg two times a week, to Vladikavkaz once a week.Georgian Airways says that flights to Saint Petersburg and Samara were of high demand in the past

Georgian Airways plans to resume direct flights to Saint Petersburg, Samara and Vladikavkaz in April-May. A related bid was sent to the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia.

According to preliminary information, flights to Samara will be made four times a week, to Saint Petersburg two times a week, to Vladikavkaz once a week.

Georgian Airways says that flights to Saint Petersburg and Samara were in high demand in the past.

Source

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Georgia's Mestia among "50 Unpredictable And Non-Clichéd Places To Travel To"

18.03.2015 (Hvino News). The Elite Daily website published a list of "50 Unpredictable And Non-Clichéd Places To Travel To In Your 20-s". Mestia from the mountainous region of Svaneti is one of the destinations mentioned in the Elite Daily's list.

“Mestia is an isolated town located in Northern Georgia, but it’s completely worth the visit. Drink Georgian wine, hike to a glacier, mingle with the locals and experience the epic beauty of the Caucasus mountains”, this is how the website describes the place. ....The hidden gems of the world are becoming hot spots for tourists — so all the more reason to visit these places sooner rather than later", - noted the author John Haltiwanger.

Among other "non-clichéd" places to travel, Elite Daily lists Yerevan (Armenia) and Kazan (Russia).

Elite Daily proclaims itself to be the voice of so-called Generation-Y (people born after 1980). Founded in 2012, this news website quickly reached  huge popularity of 40 million monthly unique visitors.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Saturday, March 14, 2015

Georgia beckons Malaysian travellers

14.03.2015. Although Malaysians are not well aware of the tourism potential of Georgia, a former Soviet Union state, its charge d’affaires ad interim Levan Machavariani is optimistic that a slew of tourism-related programmes to be held this year will entice more Malaysians to visit the country.

He said last year, Georgia received over five million foreign visitors, more than its population of 4.5 million, but only about 700 Malaysians visited the country.

“Last year, we had a little over 700 Malaysian visitors coming to Georgia, which was actually an increase in comparison to the previous years, but I believe it can be further improved and we are working towards it,” he told in a recent interview held at the news agency’s headquarters.

To entice Malaysians to visit Georgia, which is home to over 10,000 monuments of archeology, history, architecture and art since two million years ago, the embassy has planned a number of events including taking part in the European (Europe) Cinema under the European Union National Institute for Culture (EUNIC) project and in International Cinema Festival to be held in Kota Kinabalu in June.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Georgian wine heritage presentation at Berlin travel show

13.03.2015 (Hvino News) On March 7 the Georgian wine heritage presentation was held at ITB Berlin - the world’s leading travel show. Unique qvevri wine-making method, prehistoric wine artifacts, as well as longest and unbroken wine culture facts were presented by Davit Jishkariani, member of Georgian Wine Club. The event was supported by Georgian Experience and Georgian National Travel Agency. Presentation was followed by tasting of  Alaverdi Monastery wines.

ITB visitors, wine tourism professionals as well as students from Faculty of Tourism studies at University Primorska (Slovenia) attended the event.

"Interest was quite high, especially from the tourism management students from Primorska University. Generally, we should better promote our unique wine tourism potential", - noted Davit Jishkariani.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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