National Geographic, US tour operator to jointly organise tours in Georgia
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One of the largest US tour operators, MIR Corporation, and National Geographic will launch cooperation to organise tours for tourists from the United States, Canada, New Zealand and other English-speaking countries to Georgia.
Today, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava met with employees of MIR Corporation which has 30 years of Travel experience in Georgia, and discussed the prospects of attracting tourists from English-speaking countries to Georgia.
The residents of North America, New Zealand and other English-speaking countries will be offered tours in Georgia as a part of the project.
Economy Minister Natia Turnava meeting with employees of tour operators. Photo: Ministry of Economy.
The description of the MIR current tours are available at the tour operator's website. The itineraries are divided as group, custom and private ones.
Minister Turnava assessed the plan as of utmost significance at the moment when the Georgian tourism faces challenges.
We welcome the project which can increase the number of tourists from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and other English-speaking countries to Georgia,” she said.
Natia Turnava stated that these activities will support increasing awareness of Georgia as a country with ‘unique nature, culture, wine and safe tourist routes’.
On June 21, Russian president Vladimir Putin banned flights to Georgia as a reaction to protests in Tbilisi following a Duma MP's appearance in the Tbilisi parliament.
Tbilisi protests. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
In response to the ban, new online campaigns went viral in support of Georgia, calling on tourists from all over the world to spend their summer in the country.
Yesterday, CNN published an article in which a freelance US journalist based in Tbilisi Will Cathcart addresses travellers, wine drinkers, hikers and beachgoers to visit Georgia.
The country of Georgia needs you”, Cathcart addresses the readers.
Cathcart says the last week protests in Tbilisi were against the Russian politician and not against the Russian people.
Read the full CNN story here.
UNWTO’s Georgian head highlights quality tourism in Georgia
The social campaign under the hashtag #VisitGeorgia #SpendYourSummerinGeorgia continues in Georgia where Georgians as well as foreign visitors share their personal experience of travelling in Georgia and inviting everyone to support the tourism industry by travelling in Georgia this year.
A well-known Georgian basketball player Zaza Pachulia has joined the ‘Visit Georgia’ campaign and called on his fans to visit Georgia amid Russia’s ban on flights to the country. He has posted photos of Georgian landscapes on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, calling on all his followers and NBA fans from all over the world to visit this ‘amazing country’.
Moscow believes that there is ‘Russophobic hysteria’ in Georgia and the resumption of Russia-Georgia direct flights, banned by the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 21, is unlikely to take place until the attitude is changed, Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov says.
The recent address to “friends around the world” has gone viral in online media, calling on the rest of the world to come to Georgia amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent ban on flights with Georgia. Georgians invite travellers from all over the world to come to their country and "experience best wine, tastiest food and unforgettable hospitality provided by some of the warmest hearted people in the world".