Protected natural areas of mountain regions to be revitalised under "unprecedented" programme

Protected areas of three of Georgia's most picturesque provinces will be linked with tourist trails and have brand-new infrastructure in an "unprecedented" state programme of revitalising regions of the country starting next month.

The plans are a part of a four-year, 500 million GEL ($145 mln/€120 mln) infrastructure and tourism initiative entitled Revitalised Regions - announced by the government this week and aiming to repair and renew neglected public services and areas in the regions and provide jobs for local residents.

Under the projections for protected areas, a 127 km-long hiking trail connecting natural zones of Kazbegi, Pshav-Khevsureti and Tusheti in the north will be built along with associated tourist spots and venues along the route. Municipal Development Fund Manager Giorgi Shengelia told local media the move had "unprecedented scale" for development projects in Georgia.

The two-year work will aim to make it easier and more convenient to access some of the more remote protected areas of the country's northern provinces. A rendering by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.

Navigating the varied landscape already popular with Georgian and foreign visitors of the eastern part of the Caucasus mountain chain - including highland areas like Shatili and Arkhoti Valley - the trail will be assisted by shelters, camps and bridges built to bring more convenience in enjoying the sights in areas where accessibility has been long lacking.

Expected to take as long as two years due to complications posed by the challenging landscape, the work is seen as a significant part of the relevant state institutions' move to create a "trademark" tourist opportunity for the country's offering for visitors. The Revitalised Regions programme is led by the Municipal Development Fund and also involves the Agency of Protected Areas.

The overall programme is projected to create jobs for 15,000 individuals, with state tenders worth 160 million GEL already announced for 34 of the municipalities involved. It is expected to ultimately affect 63 municipalities and involve rehabilitation of cultural monuments and local administrative hubs, creation of recreational spaces, and setting up of tourist infrastructure.

Attempts at creating tourist trails through these and other remote areas over the recent years have mostly come from volunteer initiatives like The Transcaucasian Trail, a regional project involving travellers and enthusiasts in work to create routes through the wild nature found in Georgian and Armenian countryside.