200 int’l travel bloggers, influencers "get lost" in Georgia's Imereti region through airline campaign

Two hundred travel bloggers and influencers from the United Arab Emirates, followed and read by around 30 million subscribers, have boarded a flight to an undisclosed destination in the western Georgia’s Imereti region to spend the weekend before sharing their impressions on social media, as part of a campaign my Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air. 

Set to explore local landmarks, protected areas, wineries and gastronomy houses of the region, the visitors landed at Kutaisi International Airport with the promise of “getting lost”, as part of the airline’s campaign.

The Imereti Destination Management Organisation announced on Friday the region was involved in the project through its cooperation with Wizz Air, and with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi in particular.

The Organisation explained the adventure-seekers had participated in a competition announced by the Abu Dhabi branch of the company, with only 200 selected to visit Imereti for three days out of 600 applicants. 

For the visit, a special three-day programme was developed by DMO Imereti with the financial support and co-organisation of Kutaisi Municipality City Hall, which aims to create an immersive mood for the guests as much as possible in a short period of time,” the organisation noted, adding the tour of the scale was held in Georgia for the first time.

Image: Kutaisi International Airport

Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili on Friday shared the news on her Facebook page, posting "after Great Britain, Spain and Austria, Georgia will become the first country where such an unprecedented and large-scale project will be implemented".

Medea Janiashvili, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration said that Imereti is today in the focus of the internatioal social media. 

We strongly hope that the content prepared by [the influencers] in social networks will significantly contribute to the promotion of this region in the international market", Janiashvili said.

The general aim of the project is to promote the region to potential visitors in the countries of the Middle East, which Georgian tourism authorities have designated a priority region.