Kutaisi named among TIME's 100 extraordinary destinations to explore in 2024

The TIME magazine has unveiled its list of 100 extraordinary destinations to explore this year, with the western Georgian city of Kutaisi picked alongside locations around the world, the National Tourism Administration said on Monday.

The publication highlights cities, resorts, national parks and protected areas around the world, including popular tourist destinations in France, Italy, Spain and other countries.

The selection for Kutaisi said the “unofficial cultural capital” offered a unique appeal for travellers alongside the capital city of Tbilisi and the eastern winemaking region of Kakheti in the country.

The city is also noted for its boutique hotels and is hailed as a “hub of creativity and excellence”.

TIME further mentions Kutaisi having been renowned for novelists and symbolist poets in the 20th century, and features streets and iconic statues of Jason and Medea, the protagonists of the Greek mythology linking the Argonauts with the old Colchis Kingdom of western Georgia.

As one of the most widely circulated publications, TIME's weekly print edition reaches 26 million readers, while its online edition boasts over 20 million visitors.