Georgia to host World Tourism Day in 2024

38 countries of the Commission for Europe of the UNWTO have chosen Georgia as the host country for next year’s World Tourism Day, with the selection made at their 68th meeting on Thursday in Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo: Ministry of Economy

Agenda.ge, 02 Jun 2023 - 12:02, Tbilisi,Georgia

Thirty-eight countries of the Commission for Europe of the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation have chosen Georgia as the host country for next year’s World Tourism Day, with the selection made at their 68th meeting on Thursday in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili praised the news as “another great recognition of our country”. 

We have been given the opportunity to host [industry professionals] of the highest international level in our country not only from the tourism industry but also from other sectors, in addition to [also hosting] the media”, Kvrivishvili said.

She added the event would help Georgia to further increase its awareness and strengthen its positions on the international tourism market. 

Ultimately, we will see a much stronger [domestic] tourism and airline industries, and therefore a stronger economy for our country”, the Deputy Minister said. 

Maia Omiadze, Zurab Pololikashvili, Mariam Kvrivishvili at the 68th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe. Photo: GNTA

Kvrivishvili added the Commission's decision emphasised the “important” role of Georgia in the world tourism industry, as well as awareness of the country and its potential.

Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary General of the UNWTO, said the main theme of next year’s World Tourism Day would be “Peace and Tourism”.

“World Tourism Day has been celebrated for more than 30 years, and it is held every year on different continents. The next step was Europe, and the European Commission decided to celebrate the next World Tourism Day in Georgia. I would like to thank the Government of Georgia for taking this great responsibility, and for this very important initiative”, Pololikashvili said.

Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration said World Tourism Day was the main event of the year in the tourism industry.

"The European Commission unanimously supported us. It should be noted that a lot of high-level guests will come to Georgia on the World Tourism Day in 2024 and we will have the opportunity to introduce them to our country and the investment potential of our country, as well as the potential of tourism", Omiadze said.