He explains that Mestia as a winter tourism destination no longer exists and they are going to stop a hotel functioning in Mestia. Alaverdashvili says that tourism development will be stopped without state support and advertisement of various resorts which signs have already existed. According to him, they applied to Ministry of Economy in order to develop hotels and projects in regions, however, received a reply from the Deputy Minister that the companies working in regions lacked the education and experience.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tourism companies talk about withdrawal of state support
He explains that Mestia as a winter tourism destination no longer exists and they are going to stop a hotel functioning in Mestia. Alaverdashvili says that tourism development will be stopped without state support and advertisement of various resorts which signs have already existed. According to him, they applied to Ministry of Economy in order to develop hotels and projects in regions, however, received a reply from the Deputy Minister that the companies working in regions lacked the education and experience.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
British Airways leaves Georgia
29.01.2013 (HTN - Hvino Tour News) According to the Tbilisi office of the company, the last flight on the route Tbilisi-London will be operated on March 29, and starting March 31, the airline officially ceases operations in Georgia. The decision to leave Georgia was made by the British Airways for commercial reasons. The airline states that Tbilisi-London and London-Tbilisi flights are unprofitable.
British Airways returned to Georgia after a hiatus in 2012.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
British Airways returned to Georgia after a hiatus in 2012.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Guria airport construction suspended
"Working on the project was started, but this time the work is officially suspended,”- Tsivtsivadze notes.
President Mikheil Saakashvili said about the need to build the airport in the village of Meria. " In September a large international airport will be opened in Kutaisi. We must begin to build an airport in Guria, in particular, in the village of Meria. Georgia, in terms of airports, will be one of the most developed countries in the world ", - he said.
Source
Monday, January 28, 2013
1,5 million hotel project in Borjomi halted
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Guardian's Jessica Hynes: Tbilisi or bust
27.01.2013. The last time I travelled with my sister Zoe was a trip to Turkey 17 years ago. She beat all the men off the backgammon table, I tried to hire a moped without a licence and nearly crashed it, and my mother got so badly sunburned she had to stay in her hotel room. This trip was infinitely more sophisticated – not, as you might think, because we are old bags, but because Tbilisi is heaven on Earth. Not just because you can still smoke, or because the food you eat in every restaurant is fresh, seasonal and unlike anything you've ever eaten, or because you can drink usakhelauri, a wonderful light semi-sweet red wine (I am cradling a bottle to open on my sister's birthday). But also because, despite relentless onslaughts over centuries from unfriendly neighbours, the Georgian culture and spirit remain undimmed.
Georgian hospitality centers around wine and food
by Sharon Parsons
27.01.2013. Georgia, one of the oldest producing wine regions in the world, is rich in tradition. Georgian food and wine are best observed at a Georgian feast, or supra (a traditional banquet feast). In fact, it is hard to find the words to describe the experience. Part of the Georgian tradition is to have a toastmaster at such gatherings. Usually a toast is accompanied by a song or verse. While in Georgia we experienced a number of Georgian feasts that involved food and wine.
Georgian hospitality was super hot on a cold mid-November day when we arrived at Shumi Wine Company, Tsinandali in the Telavi region of Georgia. My primary goal for going to the Republic of Georgia was to better understanding what is involved in qvevri wine making. However, what I discovered first hand in Georgia was not only qvevri wine making but also a rich tradition centered on wine and food. Georgians truly know how to celebrate with wine and food. During a recent #EWBC post-conference trip to Georgia sponsored by the Georgian Wine Association, Spaswinefood experienced Georgian hospitality at its best.
27.01.2013. Georgia, one of the oldest producing wine regions in the world, is rich in tradition. Georgian food and wine are best observed at a Georgian feast, or supra (a traditional banquet feast). In fact, it is hard to find the words to describe the experience. Part of the Georgian tradition is to have a toastmaster at such gatherings. Usually a toast is accompanied by a song or verse. While in Georgia we experienced a number of Georgian feasts that involved food and wine.
Georgian hospitality was super hot on a cold mid-November day when we arrived at Shumi Wine Company, Tsinandali in the Telavi region of Georgia. My primary goal for going to the Republic of Georgia was to better understanding what is involved in qvevri wine making. However, what I discovered first hand in Georgia was not only qvevri wine making but also a rich tradition centered on wine and food. Georgians truly know how to celebrate with wine and food. During a recent #EWBC post-conference trip to Georgia sponsored by the Georgian Wine Association, Spaswinefood experienced Georgian hospitality at its best.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Construction of Poti airport under question
Poti's majoritarian MP Eka Beselia made a statement regarding the construction of Poti airport in radio Commersant air before the elections. President Mikheil Saakashvili voiced the initiative on Poti international airport construction, which was supposed to be the largest in Transcaucasia in 2009, and said that construction had to be finished in 2012. However, environmental protection NGOs protest against the construction of the airport near Kolkheti National Park and think that this construction will cause environmental problems.
Source
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
"Argo Complex" to be opened in Batumi in April
Argo's director says that as the complex is being built at the Batumi hill it will be connected to the city via an Austrian made rope-way often referred to as "Batumi funicular". At first stage 8 gondolas will be installed. The setup is meant for 21 gondolas.
Kavzharadze notes the complex will have 5 floors, and first two floors will be technical, while cafes and exhibition halls will be located on the remaining floors. He says that the investment required for the project exceeded 40 million and were allocated by a British company. Argo Multifunctional Entertainment Complex was designed by British architect in the ship shape.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Kavzharadze notes the complex will have 5 floors, and first two floors will be technical, while cafes and exhibition halls will be located on the remaining floors. He says that the investment required for the project exceeded 40 million and were allocated by a British company. Argo Multifunctional Entertainment Complex was designed by British architect in the ship shape.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Monday, January 21, 2013
7 Highlights of Georgia
21.01.2013. From the fertile wine region of Kakheti—full of beautiful churches, monasteries and wineries—to the ancient villages of mountainous Svaneti, Georgia is a land of unparalleled natural beauty, with a long, fascinating and largely under-appreciated history. A small and obscure nation located at the eastern end of the Black Sea, wedged between Russia and Turkey, Georgia has been given little attention by Western travelers, and many treasures await those willing to make the journey.
A few facts you might not know to stir your interest in this tiny Caucus nation:
- Georgia is the oldest wine-producing nation in the world, with 521 original varieties of grape and production dating back to 7000-5000 BC.
- Georgia’s many languages are unrelated to the Indo-European or Semitic languages of the surrounding region.
- Georgia is home to some of the most ancient churches in Christendom (it was the second nation to adopt Christianity, after Armenia).
Sunday, January 20, 2013
"Airzena" to return status of national airline
Airzena Georgian Airways is a privately owned airline operating services from Georgia to destinations mainly in Europe and Western Asia. Its main base is Tbilisi International Airport. The airline was established and started operations in September of 1994. Airzena merged with Air Georgia in November of 1999 to form Airzena Georgian Airlines.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Friday, January 18, 2013
Georgia's Prime Minister: Abkhazian railway is back on agenda
18.01.2013 (HTN - Hvino Tour News). The Abkhazia-Georgia-Armenia railway may be re-opened, and much more is possible because Armenia and Georgia have no problems in their relations, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili stated at a news conference in Yerevan.
Georgia has no problems with Armenia, it still has problems with Russia, he added. “We had – and still have - very serious problems with Russia. But we hope and we are doing our best to restore our relations with Russia as soon as possible. However, the controversial issues of territorial integrity will not allow us to resolve them soon,” Mr Ivanishvili said. The re-opening of the railway should be viewed in this context, he added.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Georgia has no problems with Armenia, it still has problems with Russia, he added. “We had – and still have - very serious problems with Russia. But we hope and we are doing our best to restore our relations with Russia as soon as possible. However, the controversial issues of territorial integrity will not allow us to resolve them soon,” Mr Ivanishvili said. The re-opening of the railway should be viewed in this context, he added.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Rehabilitation of Dartlo and Omalo to be carried out
Omalo and Dartlo are historical villages in mountain region of Tusheti. In total, 6 million GEL has been allocated for their rehabilitation. Dartlo and Omalo rehabilitation includes restoration of historical towers.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal's Index of Economic Freedom: "Georgia showed the most improvement in 2013"
15.01.2013 (HTN - Hvino Tour News). A joint study 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, published yesterday by the Washington think-tank The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, places Georgia at high position.
"There are five European countries whose economic freedom status has changed notably in the 2013 Index. Georgia, Norway, and the Czech Republic have become “mostly free” economies. Georgia achieved the largest score improvement in the 2013 Index", - outlines the research paper.
"Georgia’s economic freedom score is 72.2, making its economy the 21st freest in the 2013 Index. Its overall score is 2.8 points higher than last year, with improvements in six of the 10 economic freedoms including management of public finance, investment freedom, and property rights. Georgia is ranked 11th out of 43 countries in the Europe region, and its score is the most improved in the 2013 Index.
"There are five European countries whose economic freedom status has changed notably in the 2013 Index. Georgia, Norway, and the Czech Republic have become “mostly free” economies. Georgia achieved the largest score improvement in the 2013 Index", - outlines the research paper.
"Georgia’s economic freedom score is 72.2, making its economy the 21st freest in the 2013 Index. Its overall score is 2.8 points higher than last year, with improvements in six of the 10 economic freedoms including management of public finance, investment freedom, and property rights. Georgia is ranked 11th out of 43 countries in the Europe region, and its score is the most improved in the 2013 Index.
Monday, January 14, 2013
"The Moscow Times": Conquering the world with wine and food
by Paul Rimple
13.01.2013. In August 2008, I was sitting on a curb in the Georgian village of Akhalgori with journalist Wendell Steavenson watching Ossetian troops loot stores and homes. "This whole thing is crazy," she said. "All Georgia had to do was invite Russia to the dinner table. They would have conquered it with food and wine."
She, like many foreigners who have spent any time in the country, is intimately familiar with Georgia's most formidable weapon. It's not the "strategic partnership" that brings all those Washington lawmakers to Georgia. It's the food.
13.01.2013. In August 2008, I was sitting on a curb in the Georgian village of Akhalgori with journalist Wendell Steavenson watching Ossetian troops loot stores and homes. "This whole thing is crazy," she said. "All Georgia had to do was invite Russia to the dinner table. They would have conquered it with food and wine."
She, like many foreigners who have spent any time in the country, is intimately familiar with Georgia's most formidable weapon. It's not the "strategic partnership" that brings all those Washington lawmakers to Georgia. It's the food.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Georgia's Civil Aviation Union calls on government to revise strategy
12.01.2013 (HTN - Hvino Tour News) Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Union Giorgi Kodua says the 90% of aviation sector is monopolized, which causes expensive cost on flights. Giorgi Kodua has defined at the briefing today that the additional tax collections imposed for national air transporter companies has resulted in the rise of prices on flights. Kodua calls on the government to revise the aviation strategy, otherwise, he fairs the current system will affect development of tourism in the country.
`Business sector, which had to pay millions to the state budget as additional tax collection, has included this part of the tariff in ticket costs. Development of air-sector depends on chief tariffs and direct flights, but during past few years the only development we had was night flights, transit flight and high cost of tickets. Therefore, it is natural that the development of tourism sector may be affected,` Kodua said.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
`Business sector, which had to pay millions to the state budget as additional tax collection, has included this part of the tariff in ticket costs. Development of air-sector depends on chief tariffs and direct flights, but during past few years the only development we had was night flights, transit flight and high cost of tickets. Therefore, it is natural that the development of tourism sector may be affected,` Kodua said.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Georgia restores one more monument of Stalin
11.01.2013 (HTN - Hvino Tour News). The bust of Joseph Stalin has been restored in the village of Akura, Telavi District of the Kakheti Region, in the eastern part of Georgia. The monument was secretly taken down in 2010 and stored by local resident Badri Gogiashvili. Recently local authorities permitted to restore the monument.
It is the second monument of Stalin restored in Georgia after the parliamentary elections won by Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on October 1, 2012. The first monument of Stalin was restored in Zemo Alvani in the Ahmeta District. The monument is to be be erected in Gori through private donations of locals. Read more: "New York Times": Georgia: A Stalinist Restoration.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
It is the second monument of Stalin restored in Georgia after the parliamentary elections won by Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on October 1, 2012. The first monument of Stalin was restored in Zemo Alvani in the Ahmeta District. The monument is to be be erected in Gori through private donations of locals. Read more: "New York Times": Georgia: A Stalinist Restoration.
© HTN (Hvino Tour News)
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Georgian government suspends deal with TAV on Tbilisi Airport
10.01.2013. The Georgian government has suspended a memorandum with a Turkish operator of the Tbilisi International Airport on reconstruction of now unused runway, which means that the Turkish company will no longer get extension for more than ten years of its right to run the airport till late 2037.
In August, 2012 Georgia’s previous government signed memorandum with TAV Airports Holding, which owns 76% shares in Tbilisi airport operator TAV Urban Georgia, under which the airport operator company was planning to invest USD 65 million in reconstruction of the unused runway, one of the two runways at the Tbilisi airport. In exchange TAV received extension of airport’s operational right from February 2027 to November 2037.
In August, 2012 Georgia’s previous government signed memorandum with TAV Airports Holding, which owns 76% shares in Tbilisi airport operator TAV Urban Georgia, under which the airport operator company was planning to invest USD 65 million in reconstruction of the unused runway, one of the two runways at the Tbilisi airport. In exchange TAV received extension of airport’s operational right from February 2027 to November 2037.