Georgia takes measures to attract more Chinese tourists
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Georgia is creating more opportunities to develop Georgia-China tourism and preparing the special offers for Chinese tourists.
A special group has been already established to create a two-year action plan and develop ties in tourism between Georgia and China, announced Head of the National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze today.
Chogovadze explained China was a "specific” country and it was necessary to plan how to attract Chinese tourists to the country.
This plan does not include activities from only Georgian side, but it involves China as well. Chinese side is also willing to involve in the process, so both countries will plan the specific steps forward in growing tourism potential between the countries,” Chogovadze said.
The action plan will also include several marketing activities, added Chogovadze.
Almost three million tourists have come to Georgia in 2015, and trends show visitor numbers are growing.
Georgia has begun free trade talks with China. The deal will be extremely beneficial for Georgia as it will facilitate increased business and trade turnover between both nations.
Georgia and China are deepening cooperation in the fields of agriculture, tourism, science, modern technologies and construction.
"China is ready for a visa free travel regime with Georgia. We wish this and if Georgia is also interested in this issue we might start negotiations,” Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Yue Bin told local Rezonansi newspaper.
Developing tourism between Georgia and China is in focus at a meeting between representatives of the two countries today.
Georgia's capital Tbilisi and one of China’s largest cities Guangzhou have signed a cooperation memorandum that aimed to encourage Georgian and Chinese entrepreneurs to establish relationships and develop bilateral cooperation.
Georgia could let tourist groups from China enter the country without a visa and China could do the same for Georgian tourists. Tourism and foreign officials of Georgia and China met in Beijing for a consultation meeting to discuss future cooperation to develop bilateral tourism.
Georgia and China are taking several steps closer to deepen economic ties and benefit from bilateral tourism.
One of China’s leading energy conglomerates, CEFC China Energy, is showing an interest in investing in Georgia, and not only in the country’s developing energy sector.