Deputy Economy Minister: Kutaisi making it to TIME’s top 100 tourist destinations “great recognition”

Mariam Kvrivishvili, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, on Monday said the western Georgian city of Kutaisi being selected among TIME’s top 100 tourist destinations represented a “great recognition” for the region of Imereti and its tourism industry.

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

She attributed the development to a “robust publicity campaign” of the Government for promoting Kutaisi as a popular tourist hotspot, saying the work would help the city and the region to “position themselves correctly and raise visibility” further.

This is a notable acknowledgment for Imereti and its tourism industry. It is important that we [the Economy Ministry] boost the tourism potential in regions while raising the international profile of Georgia. Indeed, Imereti is renowned for its history, heritage sites, protected areas, gastronomy, viticulture and more. Consequently, we are actively working to promote Imereti”, she pointed out.

The Deputy Minister also noted  the proximity of Kutaisi International Airport to the city had made a favourable impact on the number of tourists visiting the location, adding the Ministry was committed to augmenting both passenger and air traffic at the airport, which would eventually lead to increased appeal of Kutaisi and tourist attractions in Imereti.

The TIME ranking highlighted 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.