Georgian, Austrian Presidents Agree to Cooperate to Create Safe Tourism Strategy

The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has held a video conversation with the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen.

During the conversation, the sides expressed hope that Zurabishvili's postponed visit to Austria will be held after the end of the pandemic.

The Presidents spoke about the difficulties caused by the spread of coronavirus in Georgia and Austria and the plans to reopen the economy. It was noted that the pandemic has created problems in both countries in the tourism sector, which has a negative impact on the economies.

"The President of Austria was interested in the directions of tourism in Georgia and the potential of sector development. The President of Georgia provided his Austrian counterpart with detailed information on the directions of tourism in the country and its opportunities.

"The Presidents agreed that Georgia and Austria will actively cooperate in creating a safe tourism strategy, which will contribute to the active development of the tourism sector in the post-crisis period, " said the President's Administration.

The conversation also touched upon the new world order after the crisis and the role of Georgia as a trade and transport hub during the post-crisis period.

The Presidents also spoke about Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration process. The President of Georgia emphasized that the severe crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic will not hinder the development of the European Union.

"European integration is Georgia's sole way," she pointed out. 

Salome Zurabishvili noted that against the background of international solidarity, the process of borderization at the occupation line in Georgia continues, while the humanitarian situation in the occupied regions is grave.

By Ana Dumbadze