Georgian PM announces int’l artist performances to promote tourism in Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday announced a series of music performances by popular international artists to promote tourist potential of the country this August, in a Government programme launched for the purpose.

While Garibashvili acknowledged the hosting of the events could potentially cost around ₾70 million ($30mln), he said the programme would lead to “direct and indirect” income of ₾100 million ($39.92mln) from the concerts.

In addition to the income, the concerts will help raise Georgia’s “awareness and prestige”, the PM said.

• Global artists to perform at Georgia’s Black Sea venue, capital Tbilisi to promote country

The Government head cited “serious progress” made in the tourism sector, noting “more efforts” were needed for the development of the field. He also noted the country had hosted over five million visitors in the past year.

In the programme for hosting the artists in the summer, the line-up will bring French multi-instrumentalist performer FKJ, house and techno mainstay Damian Lazarus, American pop rock band Imagine Dragons and other performers to the Black Sea town of Shekvetili and other locations.

Beside shows at Black Sea Arena - a 10,000 capacity venue in the resort - the programme will see spaces in capital Tbilisi and other venues across the country host the events.