National Tourism Administration has been conducting marketing campaigns in 14 countries. The agency has already spent 7.5 million GEL on these campaigns and selected 8 internet platforms for conducting online advertising campaigns, including 4 Russian platforms.

In April 2017 Giorgi Chogovadze, head of national tourism administration, noted that Google was actively involved in preparing summer marketing campaign, including in planning process, analysis and consultations with Georgian specialists.

«Results of our activities will be analyzed with Google specialists. In 2016 Google took part in TOUCH –  the first international conference in digital marketing conducted by national tourism administration», Chogovadze noted.

Internet campaigns are being conducted in the following countries: Russia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, Israel, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Armenia, Lithuania, Latvia. Georgia’s tourism potential will be advertised on the mentioned market, including sea and ski resorts, nature, wine, cuisine, culture, infrastructure and adventure tourism, Chogovadze said.  Summer marketing campaign will boost interest in Georgia and increase an inflow of tourists to the country, Chogovadze noted.

“The year of 2016 ended in record indicators and the inflow of travelers hit historical maximum (6, 350, 825). The growth tendency continued in 2017 too and positive indicators were fixed in January (tourists +32.4%) and February (tourists + 16.4%). We believe summer period will be also successful and we are conducting active marketing campaigns”, Giorgi Chogovadze said.

The Caucasus Business Week (CBW) has inquired what 2017 summer season expectations are.

«Sumer Starts Here» – Summer Tourism Season opened in Ajara on June 9 with this slogan.

Meri Emiridze, aide to Ajara Tourism Department chairman in media relation issues, explains that Ajara is ready for tourism season. This year Ajara will meet the new season with 5 new directions, including new hotels, renovated beach infrastructure, increased frequency of flights and  newtourism routes in Ajara highland.

New tourism products have been also developed and service quality was improved. For the first time in Georgia, in 2017 trained staff will serve guests at guesthouses and food outlets in highland Ajara. As part of tourism development school, 207 owners were trained in international standards of services and management of guesthouses.

Moreover, guides trained at Ajara tourism department and tourism products agency will offer valuable and perfect tours to tourists interested in in Batumi and Ajara highland.

Batumi international Airport is meeting the new tourism season with increased frequency of flights. In 2017 summer tourism season, 7 new airlines will perform flights to Batumi:  Fly Dubai, Wings of Lebanon, Anda Air, Small Planet Airlines, Nordavia, Nordstar Airlines and Severstal. Flights will be performed from Dubai, Beirut, Warsaw, Kiev, Moscow, Cherepovets and St. Petersburg.

According to TAV Georgia information, in summer tourism season  22 airlines will perform flights to Batumi from Israel, Iran, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Turkey and other countries. Charter flights will be also performed, in addition.

Many new accommodation places have also opened in the region.  Four new hotels have opened in addition to 348 registered accommodation facilities – Sky Tower, Vintermi IRE Palace and Black Sea Hostel. Consequently, quantity of registered beds increased to 18 950 ones in Ajara.

The region’s most attractive places such as Batumi, Batumi botanical garden and Batumi delphinarium have met the new season with renovated infrastructure.

At the Boulevard beach, renovated showers, lockers, beach chairs will serve the visitors.

Tourists arrived by train will receive comprehensive information on Ajara’s tourism potential at information-tourism center of Batumi Central. They will be also able to buy domestically produced souvenirs, products and purchase specific tours for Ajara highland.

The 2017 summer  season will be full of various culture and entertainment programs. The city will host all international events associated  with Batumi: Black Sea Jazz Festival, Topuz – festival of animated films, Classical Music International Festival  and BIAFF international festival of author cinema.

Ajara tourism department has been conducting marketing and advertising campaigns in 16 target countries. Consequently, the region expects a growth in tourist inflows from the mentioned countries.

This year Bakuriani expect touris inflow to increase in 2017. A number of infrastructural projects is being implemented in the country  and construction works will end before season commencement, Bakuriani Governor Gocha Gobronidzehe noted.

«Bicycle tracks were arranged, 14 domestic roads were asphalted. Sidewalks  and street illumination are being arranged. At this stage, active works are being carried out in tight cooperation with municipal development fund and local municipality», Gobronidze said.

Resort season in Bakuriani will start on July 10-15, he noted.

Construction works proceed in active regime, Gobronidze added.

«We expect an inflow of tourists to increase in 2017, because we have more entertainment spaces and more accommodation places», Gobronidze noted.

Racha Region also expects an inflow of tourists to increase thanks to a  new airdrome in Ambrolauri.  New flights will start in several days  and Ambrolauri airdrome will perform flights 3 times a week, Racha Governor Papuna Margvelidze said.

«This will be a very good fact for our region. Moreover, infrastructure is  being also developed, including the motorway to Shovi to increase tourists inflow», Margvelidze said.

Several guesthouses also opened in Racha in 2017. Family wine cellars and family tourism are also developed, he said.

Summer tourism season has already opened in Racha  and the Region is hosting tourists, he added.

Mestia Governor Kakha Zhorzholiani explains that Svaneti Region hosts tourists throughout the year. Winter season ended on June 10 and summer season started on the same day, he explained.

This year 30-40 new guesthouses will launch operation in Mestia as part of Produce in Georgia program, Zhorzholiani noted.

A reconstructed tourism route will also launch operation this year from Chuberi to Ushguli. Trash dump will also open in several weeks in Mestia, he added.

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