Swiss experts help Georgia create Tusheti development plan

Top economic and tourism experts from Switzerland are teaming up with Georgian officials to create a master plan for the development of Georgia’s northeastern mountainous Tusheti area. 

Today a Georgian delegation chaired by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili sat down in Bern with group of experts from the Ministry of Economy of Switzerland to discuss Georgia’s tourism potential, scales and prospects of cooperation between the two nations and Switzerland’s experience in regional development. 

PM Kvirikashvili said the Government of Georgia wished to establish a platform that would carry out studies and analyses about the development of Georgia’s mountainous areas. 

He stressed the master plans about the development of Georgia's mountainous regions must ensure the preservation of unique local ecosystems and cultural heritage. 

The Swiss experts said they were ready to support Georgia assist the country to develop a plan for Tusheti region, which is located at several hundred metres above sea level. 

The Georgian delegation met Swiss economic experts this afternoon in Bern. Photo by the Prime Minister's webpage. 

Tusheti is a popular place to visit both for foreign and local visitors. 

We have learnt about Georgia’s tourism potential from the delegation of Georgia, we also learned much about Tusheti that was interesting. I have an impression that Georgia has huge potential for tourism and there are sectors that can be developed,” said Eric Jakob, head of the Promotion Activities in the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in Switzerland. 

Jakob added there was also vast potential to pomote tourism in other areas. 

  We also agreed we’ll cooperate in terms of wine tourism,” Jakob said. 

At the end of the meeting Kvirikashvili highlighted the importance of Georgia signing an agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which united Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Island and Norway. 

The deal means 14 million more consumers for Georgian products. I believe the agreement will play an important role for our economic development and attract more investors to our country,” Kvirikashvili said. 

The Georgian delegation arrived in Switzerland yesterday. Official meetings between Georgian and Swiss officials were scheduled to end later today.