Friday, November 8, 2013

Travel and tourism to Georgia: making sense of definitions and numbers

By Giorgi Bregadze and Revaz Geradze

08.11.2013.Travel and tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing service industries globally. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the industry’s direct contribution to World GDP in 2012 was US$ 2.1 trillion (2012 prices) and it supported 101 million jobs. Taking account of its combined direct and indirect impacts, WTTC assesses Travel & Tourism’s total economic contribution at 9% of World GDP in 2012, 1 in 11 jobs, 5% of total economy investment and 5% of world exports (Economic Impact of Travel and Tourism 2013, Annual Update, WTTC)

The tourism industry is of particular importance for Georgia, which, like many other developing countries, is short on physical capital and technical skills but is very well endowed with historical sites, original traditions, pristine landscapes and a culture of hospitality. While unlikely to serve as an engine of long term growth, the tourism industry’s added advantage for a country like Georgia is that it can absorb some of the surplus labor currently under-employed in the low skill and low productivity agricultural sector.

Georgia participates in the London International Tourist Exhibition WTM-2013

08.11.2013. (Hvino TOUR News) Annual international tourist exhibition market WTM-2013 took place in London, where National Tourism Administration represented Georgia.

WTM is the largest-scale exhibition in the world and Georgia participates in it since 2004. This time along with National Tourism Administration, stand of Georgia also included Tourism and Resorts Department of Adjara, National Agency for Protected Territories, 5 tourist companies: Caucasus Travel, Visit Georgia, Georgica Travel, Explore Georgia, Geo Pay Travel and hotel Holiday Inn.

This year National Tourism Administration  presented new promo materials, where information about Georgian tourism potential is divided according to products: culture, wine and culinary, winter, hiking, summer.

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Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Ministry of Interior published statistical data of visitors who entered Georgia

05.11.2013. Georgia’s Ministry of Interior Affairs published statistical data of the visitors who crossed Georgian borders. MIA informs that there were 480,510 visits to Georgia in October 2013, 14.1% more than in 2012. As for January-October, there were 4.556,110 visits, 23.7% more than in 2012. According to the division of the data: A. tourists – 1.785,244 visits (39.2% of total amount, 17.4% more compared to the previous year); B. transit – 1.001,010 visits (22% of the total number, 57.3% more than the previous year) C. others 1.769,856 visits (38.8% of the total number, 15.8% more than the previous year).

In October 2013, most of the visitors in Georgia were from Turkey (-10%), Azerbaijan (+13.5%), Armenia (+34.3%), Russia (+37%), Ukraine (+58.6%) and Iran (+26.7%).

As for the increase of the visits, along with Poland-Czech republic-Austria, France Italy and Germany have increased the number of visits (70%,34%, 27% 20%, 17% and 17%), from Middle Asian countries – Kazakhstan (39%), Near East – Israel (31%), Eastern European countries – citizens of Belarus – 61%.

Activity by Georgian citizens crossing the state border has increased, that was 22.4% (entry) and 22.8% (exit) in the first 10 months 2013.

Source

Friday, November 1, 2013

Georgia is famed for its traditional home cooking, but watch your weight

by Mischa Moselle

01.11.2013. The Quiet Woman pub, in Georgia's Black Sea resort of Batumi, was celebrating its recent reopening. A strong smell of fresh paint was cloaked by thick cigarette smoke. From behind the bar, a teenage girl in a tartan miniskirt yelled "free beer" over the din of a cover band warbling Angels by Robbie Williams into a scratchy microphone.
Tables of chain-smoking men swayed with their pints in hand, as a Spanish football match played on big screens overhead. If there was a place to try authentic Georgian food, this pub, with its menu of burgers and chips, probably wasn't it. I left the inappropriately named pub behind, and headed out onto the deserted Piazza, Batumi's newly built town square. Its 10-storey clock tower, which doubles as a boutique hotel, was lit up and shone centre stage, but all the tables and chairs of the cafes had been moved inside until a fierce storm blew over.
In many households home-made wine is drunk with abandon 
Opposite the pub, freshly painted in wave-crest white, was a modern Georgian restaurant called Mimino, offering a beacon of light. Inside, cheery waitresses, this time in turquoise airline-style uniforms, stood ready to serve traditional food.
The port city of Batumi is the capital of Ajara, an autonomous corner of southwestern Georgia, which proudly has its own culinary heritage. At first glance, the menu did not appear easy on the hips. I pointed and ordered a selection, not knowing what to expect, except inevitable weight gain.
Vegetarian patties
First up was a steaming hot plate of Ajarian khachapuri, perfect wet-weather food. A cross between a canoe-shaped pizza and naan bread, it arrived awash with cheese and on the top wobbled an almost raw egg, swimming in a pool of butter.
Finger-thin sulguni rolls filled with cottage cheese and mint arrived on plain white plates and were moist and light, like fresh spring rolls. Still at the appetiser stage, the airline waitresses next delivered small plates of pkhali, vegetarian meatball-shaped patties, which were made of spinach, beetroot and leek. This was accompanied by plump tomatoes, balsamic glaze and lashings of dill.
Main courses were meat-centric, with signature dishes of veal chakapuli (braised chops, although usually lamb), pork odjakhuri (pork with potatoes and tomatoes, baked in a clay pot) and fried lambs' brains. I opted for filleted trout, which was flaky and filled with finely chopped walnuts and herbs.
Lakes, rivers, mountain valleys and fertile land provide a year-round bounty for Georgia and the fruits of this natural abundance can be seen daily at every meal time. During Soviet times, Georgia (the republic declared independence in 1991, shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union) was famed for its home cooking and it remains the most foodie destination in the region.

Friday, October 25, 2013

"Fly Georgia” plans to return to the market with premium-quality service

25.10.2013. "Fly Georgia " will return to the Georgian market with a premium - quality service. Commersant.ge was told at the company. According to the company, an aircraft in "Fly Georgia" aviation park was leased, but in the near future the company will be back at the market with its own planes. All these procedures, as they explain, will take up to 3 months.

Note: "Fly Georgia " temporarily suspended flights after October 17 , the decision was taken by the Board of Directors. The company's management explained the cancellation of flights by the ongoing structural changes in the company and organizational works.

As it is known, "Fly Georgia" has faced problems lately, for this reason several flights were delayed. The aircraft owned by the company was seized in Brussels airport because of the debt.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The third Turkish air-company Atlasjet started flights from Tbilisi International Airport

23.10.2013. The third Turkish air-company Atlasjet started flights in October from Tbilisi International Airport to Istanbul, challenging competitors with its cheapest prices at the moment but the question is whether or not the company is capable and willing to hold prices down in a long-term prospect.

Having watched Georgian market for a year, Atlasjet, the number one private Turkish-based company, decided to start flights from Tbilisi International Airport to Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, one of the major transit airports for the passengers flying to and from Georgia the globe over.
“We have been watching Georgian market for about one year. Considering the growth of the market and prospective growth capacity we have estimated, we decided that we should be on the Georgian market. We are a big tourism group, have 12,000 beds under three different brand names. And we think that it is a good market for cross benefit also in these terms,” President of Atlasjet Murat Ersoy said in the interview to Georgian Journal. According to him, Atlasjet will implement Tbilisi flights from Ataturk Airport with one-way price from EUR 50 including free meals, online check in and 30 kg baggage allowance for EconomiPlus passengers and round-trip tickets starting from EUR159. Business Class one-way prices begin from EUR 150 Euro. Atlasjet started flights on Tbilisi-Istanbul line from 2 flights per week and will implement daily flights starting this November. And as of April 2014, flights on route Antalya-Tbilisi-Antalya [four days a week] will be launched.

Monday, October 21, 2013

"Pegasus" Georgian Representation Predicts 30-40 % Reduction of Passengers in the Election Period

21.10.2013. The airlines surveyed by "Commersant" radio station have different expectations in the election period.“Pegasus'' airline’s Georgian representation predicts a decrease in the flow of passengers during the election period. According to the Head of the representation, government and business agencies are in a waiting mode, as a result, a number of passengers will decrease by 30-40 %.

Levan Elizabarashvili notes that from October 8 “Pegasus“ launched flights from Istanbul to Moscow andthe passengers can fly from Tbilisi to Moscow for 117 Euro. In addition Elizbarashvili says ''Pegasus” continues to expand and after Kutaisi airport will open two branches in Tbilisi.

"Airzena" expects the flow of passengers will further increase for the elections. According to the company's Director, the United Nations Commission has requested "Airzena" to carry the observers. Iase Zautashvili claims that a number of journalists will arrive in Georgia to cover the elections, it’s about the OSCE observers, that excludes the reduction in the flow of passengers. Georgian representations of "LOT" and "Al- Italia" air companies also rule out a decrease in the number of passengers.

FlyGeorgia temporarily suspended flights

21.10.2013. Board of FlyGeorgia decided to suspend flights of this Georgian airline since October 18. As the company said, the decision is caused by ongoing reorganization, which resulted in revocation of the operative certificate.

The management decided not to cut stuff until the renewal of regular flights.

FlyGeorgia, which was registered in May 2011, applied for permission on regular flights in December 2012. The company conducted flights to 10 destinations.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Cultural tour to be held foreign diplomats in Kakheti on October 20-21

20.10.2013. By the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a cultural tour will be held foreign diplomats in Kakheti on October 20-21. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the framework of the event the guests will visit the Telavi Schuchmann Wine factory.

Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze and Agriculture Minister Shalva Pipia will attend the event. The Ministry of Agriculture, namely the National Agency of Wine will present "Vintage 2013". The agency will provide information on the results of the vintage to the Ambassadors. 

According to the Foreign Ministry, after the "Vintage 2013" presentation, the Ambassadors will visit the Schuchmann Wine Factory and learn about the process of harvest in Georgia. Diplomats are expected to meet with local peasants too.

During the tour the ambassadors will also visit the Lopota lake. They will also attend the Telavi international music festival.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs is going to arrange similar tours for the diplomatic corps in different regions of Georgia in spring and autumn.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Construction of alpine ski resort Tetnuldi to start in next spring

18.10.2013. Regional Development and Infrastructure Ministry informed that construction of alpine ski resort Tetnuldi (Svaneti region) is expected to start in spring 2014, while main part of the works should be completed by the end of the same year.

The Ministry noted that preparatory activity will finish in this December, after which the tender will be announced in order to select a company for construction works.

According to the Ministry, total cost of 6 ropeways amounts to 18 million EUR (VAT exclusive). At that, 2 ropeways are already built, while construction of remained 4 ones costs about 30-32 million lari.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Gudauri Radisson to open this winter

16.10.2013. Radisson hotel will be completed in Gudauri by the end of  the year. Technological Development Fund implementing the project informs that the project cost is 8 million GEL and  the hotel will be able to receive tourists in  the upcoming winter season.

The Fund’s representative states that a lawsuit in relation to this project is being carried out in parallel in court. It’s about the 2 million 600 thousand GEL dispute with the Genesis company, which is constructing the hotel. According to the Fund, company did not fulfill its obligation. The Fund won the court in the first instance but  Genesis appealed the decision in the Court of Appeal.

Source


Saturday, October 12, 2013

11 wine companies to take part in Sighnaghi Festival

12.10.2013 (Hvino News). National Tourism Administration informed that on October 13 Sighnaghi will host wine festival, where 11 wine companies will participate. The companies will exhibit wine made according to "European" technology, while local winemakers of Sighnaghi district will represent wine made according to “peasant tradition”. The festival will also host performances of folk ensembles and a fair of local handcrafts.

Sighnaghi (Signagi) is a town in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti, dominated by the production of wine, traditional carpets and Georgian traditional food. Sighnaghi has recently undergone a fundamental reconstruction program and has become an important center of Georgia's tourist industry.

© Hvino News   |  DRINK GEORGIAN!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Interest of foreign tourists to Stalin museum growing

09.10.2013. Georgian Commersant  FM radio was told in the museum of Stalin that  in September 2013 it was visited by 5909 tourists, while in September of 2012 – by 3968. Most of the tourists came from Europe, particularly from Poland and Russia, as well as  Israel, China and Iran.

In 2012, the museum of Stalin was visited by 31 665 people. As the head of the National Tourism Administration George Sigua said,  Stalin is a part of the history and unique tourist attraction.

"There are billions of people in a world for whom Stalin is a historical character  and it should be used for the benefit of the economy of Georgia" - he said.

Source

Monday, October 7, 2013

"Air Caucasus": "Airzena " is engaged in sabotage

07.10.2012. "Airzena" airline goes to the provocations and sabotages the Civil Aviation Agency, " - "Air Caucasus " Director Jemal Khakhutashvili says.

"Airzena" President Tamaz Gaiashvili required the Agency to temporarily close the airport or restrict flights. According to him, the reason for this is the poor condition of the runway.

"You cannot imagine in what condition is  the runway. The airport’s infrastructure causes danger every day and the state of the runway is out of criticism,"- said Gaiashvili.

According to Khakhutashvili,  "Airzena" leadership aims to catch several hares.

"To scare foreign air carriers, to convince them that the flights in Georgia are dangerous, to  force them to stop flying and thus free up the market. Sabotage against the agency - to drive out the professionals and replace them with their ones. This is all well planned, but is unlikely to succeed", - he says.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Georgian tourism promo campaign to start in the Baltics

03.10.2013 (Hvino TOUR News). Georgian National Tourism Administration informed it started an advertising campaign in Baltic States, which aims at promotion of Georgia's tourist potential. Within the campaign, Georgia's opportunities of skiing and wine tourism will be represented on October 2 in Riga and on October 3 in Vilnius. According to 8-month data of the Administration, 3,762 visitors from Lithuania and 4,090 from Latvia have arrived in Georgia this year.

© Hvino TOUR News |  DRINK GEORGIAN! 

Sigua: We will sell Stalin to Chinese tourists

03.10.2013 (Hvino TOUR News). According to the Head of the National Tourism Administration George Sigua,  the share of tourism in Georgia’s GDP increased  by 1%. At present, tourism’s share in total GDP is 7.3%, in 2012  the same index was 6.37%,  Mr. Sigua said, adding that the administration expects this figure to grow even more.

According to  the survey conducted by the administration in  January - July, visitors spent 1.7 billion GEL in  Georgia in 7 months, the average rate of costs per traveler is 613 GEL.

Georgia hosted over three million tourists in the first eight months this year and expects five million by the end of this year. Georgia was ranked as the top country with the fastest tourism inflow rate in Central and Eastern Europe in the six-month report of the World Tourism Organization for the year of 2013 in August.

According to the data of the 8-month statistics, the tourist inflow amounted to 3 568 518 persons that translates into 26% growth, compared to the same period last year.

"Tbilisoba" to be celebrated on October 4-6

03.10.2013 (Hvino TOUR News). Tbilisoba will be held on October 4-6 this year, according to information from Tbilisi City Hall.

Tbilisoba will be opened on October 4 at Jansugh Kakhidze garden with a music band contest. On Gorgasali square the traditional pressing of grapes will be organized. Music performance “Pirosmani” will be staged for children in Abanotubani. Chess and backgammon tournaments, fruit festival, auto show, exhibition of paintings and many other events will be held.

Georgian martial art performance “Shavparosnebi”, pop music concert on Gorgasali square, concerts by the bands “Egari” and “Bani” will be held in Abanotubani. On  October 6th the award ceremony of honorary Tbilisians will be held at the historic museum of Tbilisi (Karvasla).

Tbilisoba is an annual October festival, celebrating the diversity and history of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. It has become an established tradition since 1970-s. The festival features open-air concerts of traditional music and dancing and various cultural events, centered on Old Tbilisi, the historical part of the city.

© Hvino TOUR News   |  DRINK GEORGIAN!

Monday, September 30, 2013

"Drink Georgian!" community is launched for fans and producers

30.09.2013 (Hvino News). "Drink Georgian!" is the simple and catchy slogan of a global community launched recently for the fans of famous Georgian drinks worldwide, as well as for producers, importers and retailers. "Drink Georgian!" (DG!) unites under a single umbrella the Georgian-made wine, spirits, mineral water and soft drinks including the famous lemonades.

The mission of "Drink Georgian!" is to offer a platform for people and businesses to show they are fans of Georgian drinks. People who like Georgian wine, spirits, mineral water and soft drinks can simply “like” the community's Facebook page; while companies, government agencies, mass media and other organizations may also display their logos on the project’s website, to show their support.

DG!'s website also offers a choice of banners with community' logo for free download. The red square buttons are available in Georgian or in English and in various sizes. They may be copied and pasted to any personal or corporate site or blog without limitations, to raise awareness about the "Drink Georgian!" community.

An important marketing advantage of DG! is that it is not directly advocating alcohol consumption. Therefore "Drink Georgian!" is not restricted by laws which impose limits on alcohol advertising, which are in force in some of the world's countries including Russia.

Hvino.com, the initiator of "Drink Georgian!"welcomes cooperation with all organizations, companies, mass media who wish to support the promotion of Georgian products and exports, as well as popularization of Georgian traditional food, drinks, culture, and lifestyle.  Inquiries may be sent to our team at Hvino News / Hvino TOUR News.

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