Winter wonderland: Prime Minister opens Mitarbi ski resort

Georgia’s Mitarbi mountain resort, located in east Georgia only four kilometers away from the country's iconic Bakuriani winter resort, is starting a new life after a 30-year break.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili officially opened the renewed Mitarbi resort together with Cabinet members today.

"This resort is surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful nature and thanks to the investments carried out here Borjomi-Bakuriani and Kokhta-Mitarbi joint complex will be formed, which will be one of the most beautiful resorts in the world," Kvirikahsvili said.

Enjoy the breath-taking view of snowy Mitarbi.

The PM said two new ski lifts and one platter lift had been built by the Black Sea Group, and ski lifts manufactured by Doppelmayr - a global leader in this industry - had installed in Mitarbi.

He added tourist infrastructure to accommodate 2,000 people would also be built, including hotels, apartment hotels, cottages, and food and entertainment establishments to promote the development of ski tourism in Bakuriani.

Check out the Mitarbi sky track.

The Mitarbi project was implemented through partnership between the state and private sector.

The state allocated 48 million GEL to finance the Kokhta-Mitarbi ski lift project, and New Mitarbi, a private investor, will now invest 70 million GEL to develop tourism infrastructure in Mitarbi. This will mark one of the largest investments in the revival of ski tourism in Georgia.

Winter enthusiast enjoy the new cable way in Mitarbi. Photo by the PM's press office.

Kvirikashvili said after these and many other projects are carried out in 2017, Bakuriani will be the resort with the capability to host international races and competitions.

"I think that during 12 months there will not be a single day when these resorts are not full of visitors. This, on the other hands, means many jobs will be created for locals,” Kvirikashvili said.

"This resort will be a source of income for the population living in the radious of 100km.”

Renovated train brought joy to children, pictured with Prime Minister Giogi Kvirikashvili. Photo by the PM's press office.

Meanwhile today a presentation of modernised train cars for the Borjomi-Bakuriani narrow-gauge railroad took place. The renovated cars will transport 128 passengers at a time. The train will run two trips per day between Borjomi and Bakuriani.