2018-03-29
"Tourism has truly become the driving force behind our country's economy. According to 2017 statistics, more than 7.5 million international guests visited Georgia, and I am convinced that these numbers will grow further to make up over 8,000,000 in 2018. I believe that it is a very good trend. It is equally positive that, in 2017, 2.7 billion USD entered Georgia through tourism, which means revenues across every area of our economy," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated during today's presentation of the 2017 Report by the National Tourism Administration LEPL. The presentation was held at the newly opened Moxy Hotel.
"I am very excited, and it is symbolic that we are listening to the National Tourism Administration's report in this newly built beautiful hotel, and I remember well how we buried the first time capsule. By the way, it was not long ago. It was during the visit of OPIC Managing Director Kenneth Angell to Georgia. I would like to thank Mr. Gia Tavadze for adding such a beautiful hotel to our city, which will surely become one of our capital's favorite sites among tourist," the Head of Government emphasized.
In his speech, Giorgi Kvirikashvili underscored the importance of putting in place tourism infrastructure, also emphasizing that geographic location should not be an obstacle in tourism development. In this regard, the Prime Minister pointed out the importance of spatial planning, one of the directions under the Government's four-point agenda.
"Spatial planning, one of the directions under the four-point agenda, and all these directions are closely, logically, and harmoniously interconnected.
The spatial planning component ensures against geographic location being an obstacle in the development of tourism. Putting in place modern infrastructure leading to every tourist destination is one of the top tasks that are so important for the development of this industry.
This is the very goal served by the construction of highways, the development of winter infrastructure, and the formation of an infrastructural framework for the industry of services, which will reflect directly in the development of tourism. Thus, the Government's efforts in this direction will continue, and I am convinced that this current positive tourism trend will persist in the future," the Head of Government said.
According to the Prime Minister, the recent fresh trends in the tourism sector are vitally important.
"The recent trends in this sector are very important, and the hi-tech segment is increasingly gaining foothold in tourism. It is very important because the purposeful empowerment and development of the hi-tech segment will bring hi-tech tourists to the country. Of course, we will pay more and more attention to quality enhancement and the safety component of tourism which is, understandably, equally important," Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated.
According to the Head of Government, the appointment of Zurab Pololikashvili as Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization demonstrates that Georgia is decisively taking its place on the world's tourist map.
"I would like to emphasize and welcome our compatriot's election to the Office of Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, which demonstrates two things. One is that Georgia is gaining a strong foothold on the world's tourism map, becoming important in many ways, with Georgia turning into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and this and our country's reforms, of course, are confirmed yet another time by the fact that our country's representative, our compatriot, has been elected to such an honorable international office. The other is exemplified by Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili's background and his personal merit. For some reason, we have been saying that it is the country's achievement, but it must be said that it is Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili's achievement, because he, through his personal work, and joint engagement and assistance, of course, has made it possible to hold such an important position. I am convinced that it is very important to the World Tourism Organization as well, given Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili's agility and experience that he brings into this organization," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
The Head of Government hopes that the positive trend in the development of the tourism sector will continue.
"I am hopeful, and I am convinced, that this positive trend in the development of the country's tourism will continue, which means that tourism gives rise to economic demand followed by increasing supply. It is not true only of the service sector but of all economic directions. It means a growing demand on agricultural products, and I am really happy to see more and more Georgian products finding a niche in internationally branded hotels. I hope, and I am sure, that this trend will continue at the Moxy Hotel as well. In addition, it is about a growing demand in the transport industry, communications, and many other interesting directions. New demand, additional demand, will reflect directly in absolutely all developmental directions in our country," the Prime Minister stated.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitri Kumsishvili and Head of the National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze for their work and wished them success in their future endeavors.
"Once again, I would like to congratulate the National Tourism Administration on this great success. I would like to thank you, Giorgi, for your work. I am also thankful to the Ministry of Economy and Mr. Dimitri Kumsishvili. It must be said that this success does not belong to one particular agency, because tourism's success is unimaginable without the country coming as one integrated mechanism, including the authorities, the population, in order for every link to work toward this success. Otherwise, success in tourism is unimaginable. Once again, I congratulate you, and I am convinced that our country will reach new heights in this direction," Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
According to statistic s from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Georgia hosted 7,554,936 international visitors in 2017, marking an 18.8% year-over-year growth.
The number of foreign visitors, that is, of those who stay in the country for longer than 24 hours, constitutes 478,932, marking a 27.9% year-over-year growth.
According to WTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, this growth is exemplary and unmatched in any other country in the world.
Prime Minister's Press Office