TOURISM INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA

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JULY 1998
THIS REPORT PREPARED BY BISNIS REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CHANTLADZE
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S.DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1997, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITEDSTATES.
SUMMARY
Several years ago, Georgia was hosting millions of tourists each yearattracted by many health spas in the mountains and the resorts along theBlack Sea coast, all tempered by an excellent climate.
Unfortunately civil war in 1992 reduced the tourist flow to Georgia.Nevertheless, four years after this event, the tourism industry is setfor a revival.
The World Bank is to provide USD 5 million for the restoration ofGeorgian cultural monuments, which will help create favorable conditionsfor tourism development.
Georgian tourism infrastructure (including more than 100 recreationresorts) has not been updated for 10-15 years, so experts believe thatit cannot be developed with small investments.  Several years ago anAustrian company ABV built ski resort in Gudauri meeting internationalstandards.  The same company is going to renovate mountain sportscomplex in Bakuriani, which seems destined to be the center of wintertourism of the South Caucasus.
According to some observers, investments in the Georgian tourism andrecreation will yield results and bring profit in about 5-10 years.
The country is famous for its wines and mineral waters, which have bigexport potential.  McDonalds is planning to open Georgian market by theend of this year.For cultural tourists Georgia is interesting with its historical placesand museums.  There are about 12,000 historic cites and 150 museums.Some of these cites date back to four century BC.
Country's rich history and culture, as well as the mild climate andsplendid landscape will be the factors in reviving tourism in the nearfuture.
Several international air companies such as: British Airlines, TurkishAirlines, Austrian Airlines and Swiss Air have already regular flightsin Georgia.
GEOGRAPHY
Georgia is located in the Central and Eastern Caucasus and occupies 69.7sq.km.  Its neighbor countries are the Russian Federation (in theNorth), Azerbaijan (in the East), Armenia (in the South) and Turkey (inthe South-East).  The total length of the border is 1968.8 km.  Thelength of the land border is 1660.4 km.
Georgia is a mountainous country.  The West part of the country iswashed by the Black Sea.  The length of the Georgian section of theBlack Sea coast is 330 km.
General information
The biggest cities: Tbilisi - 1,225,000; Kutaisi - 221,000; Rustavi -145,000; Batumi - 115,000.
Highest Mountains: Shkhara - 5,068 m; Mkinvartsveri (Kazbek) - 5,047 m;Shota Rustaveli - 4,860 m; Tetnuldi - 4,858 m; Ushba - 4,700 m; Ailama -4,547 m.
Longest Rivers: Mtkvari (Kura) - 1,364 km; Tergi - 623 km; Chorokhi -438 km; Alazani - 315 km; Rioni - 327 km; Tori - 320 km; Enguri - 213km.
Largest Lakes: Paravani 37.5 sq.km; Kartsakhi - 26.3 sq.km; Paliastomi -18.2 sq.km; Tabatskuri - 14.2 sq.km; Khanchali - 13.3 sq.km; Jandari -10.6 sq.km.
CLIMATE
Georgian climate is extremely versatile.  The relatively small territorycovers different climatic zones, ranging from humid subtropical zones,to the zones of eternal snow and glaciers.  Humid subtropical climateprevails in West Georgia, whereas moderately humid and dry subtropicalclimate with a considerably lower level of precipitation ischaracteristic of the East.  High climate zonality is typical of themauntainous areas.
FLORA AND FAUNA
In spite of its small size Georgia is covered with a large variety ofvegetation, which is caused by a considerably difference between theWestern and Eastern climate.
At present, Indo-Australian tropical flora is the closest in type to thevegetation characteristic of Georgia.  Forest constitute 38.6 % of thecountry's territory and cover 2.69 million hectares.
In Georgia are registered about 100 species of animals, over 330 speciesof birds, 48 species of reptiles, 11 species of amphibians and about 160species of fish.
RECREATION RESORTS
There are many places in Georgia which have been known for their healingproperties.  102 climatic and health resorts operated in Georgia.  Mostbalneological and balneoclimatic resorts are located on the seaside andin the mountain zone, with beautiful landscapes, numerous springs andthe healthy climatic conditions.  Some of the most famous are Nabeglavi,Zvare, Nunisi, Tkvarcheli, Borjomi, Sairme, Utsera, Abastumani,Tsagveri, Tsemi, Java, Kojori, Kiketi, Manglisi, Shovi, Bakhmaro,Lebarde and Avadkhara.
The Black Sea coast with its excellent climatic conditions is animportant zone of resort development.  Climatic resorts located thereare Batumi, Kobuleti, Makhinjauri, Mtsvane Kontskhi, Ureki etc.  Theclimate here is humid subtropical with mild winters and long summers.The season for sea bathing lasts 5-6 months and the climatic treatmentfor the whole year.
Georgian part of the Black Sea coast is mostly rocky, except for Urekiwere the send includes magnetic iron which is used as a medicaltreatment.
Natural resources of Georgia provide good opportunity for touristsinterested in mountain climbing, hiking and cave exploration.  Skiing isalso popular.  Borjomi, Bakuriani, Gudauri and Bakhmaro have extremelygood natural conditions for development of ski resorts.  As for mountainclimbing, upper Svaneti is a good place with a big concentration ofsummits.