World experts shape future for Georgia’s mountain tourism

Developing Georgia’s winter wonderlands into four-season mountain resorts is the focus of a 3rd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Economy.
Agenda.ge, 05 Apr 2017 - 13:13, Tbilisi,Georgia

Hundreds of top officials are now in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, discussing innovative methods to better position the country’s ski resorts on the international marketplace.

Developing Georgia’s winter wonderlands into four-season mountain resorts is the focus of a third Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference. The overall goal is to expand of the country’s ski tourism market and ensure its steady, sustainable growth.

More than 65 percent of our country’s territory is mountainous. Different research has shown that Georgia’s ski resorts have the potential to generate over $300 million from tourism. Taking into account all these reasons, the Government of Georgia has amassed substantial financial resources and applied them to development of our mountain resorts,” said Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili at the conference.

The PM talked about recent developments in Georgian mountainous areas. These include the opening of Goderdzi in the mountainous Adjara region and Tetnuldi in the highland region of Svaneti.

About 300 delegates from different countries are attending the third Euro-Asian Ski Resorts Conference in Tbilisi. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Economy.

In addition, the Government has started to design the general development plan for different resorts [such as Bakuriani, Tusheti, Mestia and Bakhmaro]. The idea is to turn all the resorts into four-season destinations. The four-season mountain resort concept will offer tourists different attractions at all times of the year,” said Kvirikashvili.

The reason for developing Georgia’s mountainous areas was not only to offer better living conditions for the local population or improve facilities for domestic travellers, but also to cater to the growing number of international tourists.

Georgia’s efforts to make the country’s ski resorts popular as tourist spots appears to be paying off – the number of visitors is increasing steadily.

Within the last five seasons, the number of travellers visiting Georgia’s ski resorts has increased by 800 percent. Besides, Georgia aims to host a variety of international championships for winter sports. For this reason Georgia is striving to develop its ski resorts in a way that boasts international standards,” said Kvirikashvili.

UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rafai was one of the most prestigious guests of the conference, where he also delivered a speech. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Economy. 

The conference, organised by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the Government of Georgia and the Georgian Mountain Resorts Development Company, will continue tomorrow as well.

About 300 delegates from different countries are attending the third Euro-Asian Ski Resorts Conference in Tbilisi.

Under the title ‘Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Mountain Tourism Development,’ international experts are discussing current and future challenges, illustrating success stories and creating a platform to exchange of innovative initiatives.