Georgia Hosts ICCA Forum

Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze today opened a two-day forum in collaboration with the International Congress and Conventions Association, hosted in Georgia for the first time.

Giorgi Kobulia, Minister of Finance and Sustainable Development and Giorgi Chogovadze, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration addressed Forum guests.

Key topics included the high importance of the meetings and events industry to grow Georgia’s economy, modern challenges and trends of the industry globally, the importance of international and local associations as well as state cooperation, and strategic advancement.

The forum was organized by the Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable development, the National Tourism Administration Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and the ICCA.

Guests included regional directors of ICCA in the Middle East, Senthil Gopinati and Elif Balch. A number of member companies of the Convention and Exhibition Bureau also participated.

Business tourism in Georgia has improved in the ICCA ranking by 18 points from 2014 - 2017. The ranking calculates the number of meetings held by international associations in different countries and cities around the world.

by Amy Jones