2018-05-18
Les Roche, one of the top three schools in the world, is launching its tourism and hospitality operations in Georgia. Today's presentation of this global leading school, which will be implemented in Georgia and the wider region for the first time, was attended by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
"Today is a joyous day, indeed. Georgia is attracting increasing attention throughout the world as a country with exceptional tourism dynamics, and we are all aware of the immense effect tourism has on economic development. Last year proved to be record-breaking in every way. The number of Georgia's international visitors was double the country's population. Friends, it is huge success and joy that these dynamics continue this year as well, with the numbers of international travelers and tourists growing at the exact same speed. I will not take your time describing the spillover effect tourism has on such industries as agriculture, transport, construction, and others.
One thing is as clear as day. There comes a time when Georgia must place special emphasis on service quality. It is at this time of such a rapid growth that the issue of preparing high-level managers in our country is becoming especially urgent.
This is why we are eager to welcome Les Roches, one of the world's top three hospitality schools, entering Georgia to operate at the University of Business and Technologies and to start training high-level managers. We certainly welcome this fact," the Prime Minister emphasized in his speech.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili congratulated the University of Business and Technologies and its Rector Mikheil Batiashvili on their achievements and thanked them for recently introduced positive innovations.
As the Head of Government underscored, Georgia is becoming the world's leading school program provider in the local market and in the region and Eastern Europe alike. According to Kvirikashvili, Les Roches, for the first time in its history, made a decision to expand abroad, choosing Georgia for this purpose.
The Prime Minister thanked UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili for his enormous contribution to and active engagement in the entry of the Les Roches School into Georgia.
"As you know, most premium-class hotels in Georgia have foreign managers. Of course, we welcome experience-sharing and highly qualified professionals to our country, but it is equally important to us to train local residents as top managers capable of competing in the competitive environment we see in the world today. It is extremely important to us," the Prime Minister stated.
The Head of Government, in his speech, also emphasized the huge success announced last night at the International Ski Federation's Congress. According to the Prime Minister, the fact that Georgia will host the 2023 World Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championships means that the country is advancing to the premier league in this direction, and this crucially important process starts today, not in 2023.
"This announcement today stands for investments starting to grow today, firstly in Bakuriani and Gudauri, and throughout Georgia, of course," the Prime Minister said.
According to the Prime Minister, this decision will motivate the private sector to foster the development of winter sports and winter infrastructure. Similarly, it stands for upgrading this direction to a higher rank of priorities of the state. The Prime Minister also emphasized the process' importance in terms of popular engagement.
"This decision means further growing, greater tourism dynamics in our country, and more people interested in Georgia," the Head of Government stated.
The Swiss school, which is one of the top three in the world, launches its operations in Georgia with support from the Georgian National Tourism Administration and the World Tourism Organization. The program's implementation will boost the preparation of highly qualified hospitality human resources and the further development of the growing tourism industry.
The presentation of the Les Roches program was attended by representatives of the executive, legislative, and local branches of government, the diplomatic corps, and the private sector.
Prime Minister's Press Office