Georgia’s National Tourism Agency Welcomes New Head

The Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) has a new head: Mariam Kvrivishvili, appointed as a result of a competition.

Kvrivishvili, 29, was presented by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Koulia, on February 5.

“Mariam Kvrivishvili has great work experience in the private and public sectors. She has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Marketing, Business Administration and Management, which is very important for us,” the Minister said. I think her work experience, education, and vision will provide more energy for tourism administration and will help us to advance this very important segment of our economy”.

He added that Kvrivishvili also has a lot of experience in the tourism sector. Since 2013, she was working as the Director General of LLC Voyager. She was also airline Fly Dubai Regional Manager in Georgia. In 2012-2013, she worked as Deputy Head of the National Tourism Administration.

Kvrivishvili said it is a great honor for her to head one of the most strategically important agencies of the country.

“There are many challenges ahead because the goals that are based on national principles are quite ambitious. It is important that with the short, medium and long term strategies, we develop new tourism products, create new infrastructure and launch more new flights to bring in more high-profile tourists. It is also important that Georgia have more diversified and strategic markets," she added.

She told media that there is a lot of potential in Georgia and she plans to launch new touristic products like medical- and eco-tourism.

“These products will be a base for the existing product supply platform in the country. The involvement of the private sector in the development of medical tourism is of utmost importance. We have one mission: we want more quality tourists to come to Georgia,” she added.

The GNTA Head noted that in order to develop tourism in the country, the involvement of both the state and private sectors is necessary.

“For example, in medical tourism the GNTA will be involved alongside the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Health and those private companies who are able to offer medical tourism products to visitors,” she said.

Kvrivishvili added that the main aim is to create a more diverse tourism market in order to attract more tourists to Georgia.

“We need to have more direct flights to some countries whose citizens actively visit Georgia for tourism purposes. Also, we need to have flights to countries which are not so active but have the potential to be attracted to come,” she said.

The GNTA is a Legal entity of public law, a part of the system of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, independently conducting activity under state control.

The goals and objectives of the GNTA are:

• Formation and implementation of the Georgian tourism development state policy;

• Promotion of sustainable tourism development;

• Promotion of high export income growth and job creation in the country on the basis of tourism development;

• Attraction of foreign tourists to Georgia and development of domestic tourism;

• Promotion of human resources development in the field of tourism destinations, infrastructure and tourism.

By Thea Morrison

Image source: Reginfo