Georgia’s resort potential showcased at Int’l Spa Heritage Festival in US

The Resorts Development Agency of the Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on Thursday said its delegation had showcased Georgia’s resort potential at the International Spa Heritage Festival, held last week in Saratoga Springs in the United States.

The event organised by the European Historic Thermal Towns Association, a membership organisation representing historic thermal spa towns and regions across Europe, featured about 300 experts, members of society, and media representatives.

The Agency Director Aleksandre Onofrishvili addressed the event pointing out the “rich history” of balneological resorts in Georgia and ongoing development projects in the sector, and noted the festival has a “special meaning” for the Agency “facilitating valuable business connections and enhancing relationships with potential partners in Europe and in the US”.

Within the event, the Georgian delegation met John Safford, the Mayor of Saratoga Springs, Ross Levi, the Executive Director of the New York State Division of Tourism and a Vice President at New York’s Economic Development Agency, and Randy Simons, the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, as well as held B2B meetings with representative of tourism sector involved in the management of thermal resorts.

The festival also involved an exhibition  introducing the rich” heritage” of Europe's historical thermal cities, including Georgia's balneological resorts.

The Agency added it had participated in the festival as a member of the EHTTA, having joined the Association last month, with the move preceded by a “number of successful joint activities”.