Denis Keefe, Ambassador UK Ambassador To Georgia
Why Georgia
“Georgia offers a unique combination of history, nature and culture. In a small geographical space you can see mountains, deserts, forests, wetlands and caves; history and architecture from ancient times to the present day; and an enormously varied and lively traditional culture.
Favourite places
“I have many favourite places – Tusheti, Borjomi-Kharageuli, Kutaisi, Batumi, Racha, Kazbegi … But the one I return to most often is Lagodekhi , for the quiet atmosphere, natural beauty and good food and wine.
Things to do
“What is needed – apart from reassurance on security – is steady improvement to infrastructure, so that tourists can be sure that basic services will be of consistent quality. Georgian hospitality and friendliness towards guests is a great advantage, but to attract well-off, adventurous tourists from Europe will need more attention to standards of transport and accommodation”.
Patricia Flor, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Georgia
Why Georgia
“Georgia boasts an old culture and numerous historical monuments – churches, monasteries, castles. Tourists can also find the most beautiful landscape both in the Georgian mountains as well as in the valleys and on the coast of the Black Sea. One can explore, swim, hike, ski, raft, relax…. Most important of all, visitors can experience your wonderful Georgian hospitality, the friendliness of the Georgian people, sumptuous supras, khinkali, Georgian wine and so many other highlights of any visit to this wonderful country.
Favourite places
“My favourite place in Georgia that I recomend to visit it the old monastery of David Gareji which lies in this strange steppe landscape and embodies the seeking of solitude and peace by Georgian monks through all times”.
Things to do
“Improve roads – tourists must be able to get to their destinations fairly comfortably and in good time. Offer tourist facilities – road signs and information, guides, toilets”.
Franco Impalà, First Secretary of Italian Embassy in Georgia
Why Georgia
“Georgia can surprise straight away the traveller, who has the immediate feeling to have landed on a kind of “European iceberg”, which at some point broke away from the Old Continent to strand on Asiatic shores.
It is one of the very few remaining places where Europeans can experience such an indefinite sense of their common ancestral. To that extent – with its ancient but still lively traditions, its mysterious landscape, its dances and music – it reminds me in some way Scotland. Perhaps it is not without meaning that both of them shared the destiny of being at the borders of the Roman civilisation…
But what makes Georgia unique is the fact to be at a crossroad and this sense of continuous, dynamic integration between past and future, between the wish to remain itself and the will to open windows on the world and have some fresh air in. In this struggle, Georgia is a perfect archetype, perhaps for the whole human civilisation today, and it has a lot to teach others – starting from the rules of hospitality.
Favourite places
Until now one of my favourites places is Omalo, in the Region of Tusheti, at the border with Chechnya and Dagestan.
Things to do
As in Italian, I have always felt that the model of agriturismo (basicly old charming farms in Italy where people can sleep and enjoy fine cooking based on genuine, local products) could honour Georgia’s rich heritage, helping preserving national traditions while promoting a form eco-sustainable tourism.
Laimonas Talat-Kelpša, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
Why Georgia
“Georgia is such a beautiful country, so it is difficult to single out one particular reason why should tourists come here. I think there are different reasons for visiting Georgia. During last five months when I am working here what astonished me firstly is that Georgia has perfect combinations of three things. It is good weather, good wine and good people. All that combinations provides and encourages foreigners to come here. This means that people who are looking for sun, Georgia is a good place to go. People who are looking for nice food and good wine, this is also a perfect location. Also, people of course, this is the most valuable asset here, in Georgia. They are so hospitable at any inconvenient situation you can lay on local population.
Favourite places
It is difficult to name a place that I considered to be visited by all means. As, sometimes it seems that you have learned Georgia entirely and later it suddenly happens that you continue discovering new places. The same happened with me last weekend when I went to national park of Vashlovani. It is really amazing and you could not expect to find out such kind of landscape in Georgia. There are lots of other places for people who want to see the magnificence nature. Such as Caucasus Mountains, Kazbegi, Racha, Svanetia, Khulo, which is not far from Batumi, but still it is with different landscape and very high on mountains. Those who are longing for a see, of course, they would go to Kobuleti, or Batumi. Those who are interested in a gastronomic advantages of Georgian cuisine, they would go to Kaheti. So, I believe there is a wide spectrum of choice in Georgia. Georgia is not a single icon country. So, Georgian government and Georgian businesses have to build arms for these possibilities that exist here.
Things to do
Recently many things have been done already. You see and hear information online that Georgia really investing a lot and attracting tourists.
Most obvious disadvantages is the location of Georgia. It is not easy to access. Those tourists, who would like to come to Georgia, for example Lithuanians, they have to pay for air ticket and that already costs quite a lot. It increases the price of their overall package. For example, when you are choosing to go to Turkey, Spain or Georgia, of course it is cheaper to reach the other two locations except of Georgia.
Also, infrastructure on the ground. Many things have been done in this direction, but when you are a foreigner and travel to Georgia the access of sightseeing is complicated without the help of local people. This mentioned components of all Georgia’s touristic success.
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