2018-06-08
Gudauri will become three times its current size, but it will be a prudently planned and developed destination with all necessary facilities, and not only for skiers. It will also meet the current global trend of rapidly growing numbers of non-skiers visiting ski resorts. This statement was made by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili at today's Government meeting which approved Gudauri's urban development documentation.
According to the Prime Minister, the country's proper spatial development is given top priority, especially in winter resorts, in order to prevent chaotic development and to plan from the onset spaces for residential areas, sufficient parking spaces, pedestrian areas, and trade and entertainment spaces.
"Letting development go chaotic relying solely on the business interests of developers will backfire. I believe that the work invested by the Government in cooperation with Canadian ECOSIGN enables us to ensure the prudent development of Gudauri, a most important destination," the Prime Minister stated.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the resort's development in line with the plan is especially important given the fact that, in 2023, Georgia, namely Gudauri and Bakuriani, will host the Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships.
"Gudauri will be divided into three territories: 1) Central Gudauri, 2) New Gudauri as the resort's main pedestrian center, with mandatory tourism infrastructure on the first floor of each building in the settlement, including ski service centers, shops, food outlets, rest areas, conference halls, and others, and 3) The Kobi-Gudauri Base Area that will improve access to the Gudauri skiing area and will enable Stepantzminda's residents, and tourists arriving from the north, to use gondola lifts, despite climate conditions-with the construction of gondola lifts to launch this year-easily to access the resort's ski areas," the Prime Minister emphasized.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the development of ski runs on the northern slope will be planned, because the northern slopes, given the position of the sun, have potential to keep snow much longer.
"To summarize, today's Gudauri will be three times the current size, but it will be a prudently planned and developed destination with all necessary facilities, and not only for skiers. It will also meet the current global trend of rapidly growing numbers of non-skiers visiting ski resorts. In many leading resorts, those who simply celebrate New Year's Eve, or vacation, and not only in winter but all-year round, are more than half in number than the skiers. It will not involve tourists only, but the residents of Gudauri, nearby villages, and Stepantzminda will have workload and revenues all-year round," Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated.
The Prime Minister also discussed the changed designed to boost the sales of local products.
"The legislative amendments implemented and to be implemented by us for small entrepreneurs will make it much easier to sell local production at local restaurants and hotels. We will put in place special incentives to encourage specifically the procurement of local products by local tourism sites. It is a very important change. The Gudauri we are currently developing will allow for 14,250 skiers on a ski run at once. It is a very serious potential for the whole region, and this trend will continue, of course. Relevant finances have been allocated, and this project will be implemented in partnership with the private sector," the Prime Minister stated, adding that the development of the mountainous areas will be paid special attention in the future as well.
Prime Minister's Press Office