Kobuleti Green City
The town of Kobuleti is located in Georgia’s Ajara Autonomous Republic, on the Black Sea coast. Just 45 minutes by car north of the glitz and glamour of Batumi’s casino, international brand hotels, and throngs of international tourists, Kobuleti is a quieter, more humble beach town. The spot is a favorite among middle class Georgian families, who flock to the rocky beaches every July and August, bringing life to its otherwise sleepy streets.
A slick new highway bypass between Kobuleti and Batumi was finished last year, cutting travel time and increasing comfort for those riding in public mini-buses. There are plans to extend the road north, linking the towns with others along the coast – Ureki, famous for its magnetic black sand beaches; Shekvetili, home to the Black Sea Arena and the new Paragraph Resort and Spa; Poti, a major port town; all the way up to Anaklia – a manufactured dream city that will one day boast Georgia’s first state-of-the-art deep water container port and a 200 hectare residential town in the image of ‘green city’ and ‘smart city’ concepts, built around bike lanes, electric car charging stations, and a Special Economic Zone. The new double-decker Stadler trains introduced in July 2016 are almost always packed, especially in the summer, with tourists and holidaymakers traveling between Tbilisi and Batumi – the train also makes stops in Ureki and Kobuleti.
As part of decentralization efforts started under the previous political administration of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, the Black Sea coast was targeted for development as a center of trade, industry, and tourism. Since 2010, Batumi has seen incredible rates of investment and growth, changing to the point that locals are protesting unchecked development and demanding the introduction of construction and zoning standards to maintain the charm and historical character of what was once called “the white city.” As many domestic visitors have been priced out of Batumi, or prefer a less crowded holiday experience, the northernly beach towns such as Kobuleti are becoming increasingly popular.
On Wednesday afternoon, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze introduced a massive new project to extend controlled development efforts into Kobuleti. At a presentation event in the Kobuleti town center, Bakhtadze shared his government’s plans for the development of a new “Green City.” The multifunctional city will take approximately three years to build on 180 hectares of land and will start with a 500 million GEL ($185.5 mln) investment from Green Resort, who is managing the project. Bakhtadze emphasized the importance of the increasing investments from EU member states, praising the EU-Georgia free trade regime.
“We are talking about a large-scale project poised to become a genuine pearl throughout the Black Sea Region, one that will ensure that Georgia positions itself as the tourism leader,” said Bakhtadze. "We are talking about FIFA-standard football pitches, tennis courts, and one of the best golf infrastructures in the world. This will enable us to attract to Georgia those tourists who are not currently viewing the country as a destination because we do not have this kind of infrastructure. I would like to thank our investors who have decided to make this unprecedented investment in Georgia,” he continued.
“During construction and beyond, after this unique resort is commissioned, small enterprises will be able to receive significant benefits from this large-scale investment. In three years, one of the best resorts in the world will be built on this territory,” insisted Bakhtadze.
Bakhtadze told the gathered crowd that the project will be “the largest investment ever made in Ajara, in our touristic infrastructure. We are talking about the construction of a new green city that will become a calling card for all of Georgia.” The new infrastructure will be built with energy efficient and environmentally friendly materials and building practices, promised the Prime Minister.
The project design includes sports infrastructure such as a golf course, football stadium, tennis courts, swimming pools, bike trails, and other recreation areas. On the leisure side, there will be a new 250-room hotel, a shopping mall, parking spaces for 500 cars, dining options, apartments and detached homes. The goal of the project, said Bakhtadze, is to turn Ajara into a four-season resort. It is estimated that the Kobuleti Green City project will create 500 new jobs during its construction and operation combined.
Bakhtadze also thanked the leadership of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara for supporting the project’s development and implementation.
After his announcement, Bakhtadze attended the opening of a play by Georgian playwright Davit Kldiashvili at Batumi’s Ilia Chavchavadze Drama Theater. At the end of the performance, local activists scattered the audience, including the government representatives, with leaflets protesting what they see as the reckless overdevelopment of Batumi. Many critics worry that Kobuleti could be the next victim of the government’s growth ambitions.
By Samantha Guthrie
Image source: Government of Georgia