Georgian PM’s World Tourism Day message emphasises Gov’t’s peace policy as “top priority” for unification

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday emphasised the “crucial link” between tourism and peace and highlighted the Government’s commitment to peace for unification of the country, in his address at the ongoing World Tourism Day event in Tbilisi.

The peace policy is the main priority of our team, serving as an indispensable condition for reconciliation with the Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers and sisters, restoration of trust and mutual respect, and unification of our country”, Kobakhidze said, referring to the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia.

The Prime Minister underscored the significance of peace in fostering development of tourism and promoting global travel, with Tourism and Peace the main theme of this year’s event.

Peace is essential for the development of tourism and the promotion of travel worldwide, for the effective and dynamic development of the industry. Tourism, on the other hand, ensures the establishment and deepening of friendly relations between peoples, the cultural rapprochement of nations, and the exchange of important ideas and new initiatives, making it one of the most important factors in ensuring peace in the world”, Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister reflected on a “decade of peace” in Georgia, expressing determination to prevent future conflicts.

We are the only Government under which, for more than a decade, there has been no war in Georgia, and we are doing our best to not allow this to happen in the future either", he stated.

Kobakhidze noted the nation was also marking 31 years since the fall of Sokhumi, the capital city of Georgia's breakaway region Abkhazia, today, and emphasised a peaceful policy was “essential” for uniting the country.

We hope this policy will soon yield positive results for Georgians, Abkhaz, Ossetians, and all people living in this region. We aim for every citizen in these beautiful parts of our country to benefit greatly from tourism”, Kobakhidze said.

The annual event is being held for the first time in Georgia, and held under the auspices of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Government officials, representatives of international organisations and the tourism industry from around the world are being hosted in Tbilisi, with discussion panels focusing on global tourism trends and the role of peace in fostering industry development.

The decision to grant the country the hosting right was unanimously approved by 38 members of the European Commission of the WTO in 2023.