PM: I'm Glad Georgia Became the most Distinguished Meeting Place of Tourism Sector

"I'm glad that Georgia has become the most distinguished, representative meeting place of the tourism sector and I am proud to say that it is a great honor for us to host you. Georgia and the World Tourism Organization are connected by many years of successful cooperation, which is becoming more and more fruitful. It is very important for us that this session is held for the first time outside the borders of Spain, and that it is taking place precisely in Georgia," Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 112th Session of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The session hosted by Georgia is the first event with an unprecedentedly high level of representation in the post-pandemic world. It is usually held biannually in Madrid. In 2020, however, its organizers made an unprecedented decision to choose Tbilisi instead of Madrid as the venue for this year’s Executive Council Session.

The Head of Government emphasized that, along with the Executive Council’s member states, WTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili also played a crucial role in said decision, for which Gakharia expressed his gratitude.

“Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the organization, together with the member states of the Executive Council, has made a great contribution to this decision, for which I would like to thank him personally. Such a representative presence of delegations against the backdrop of limited mobility in the world is especially appreciated.

Nowadays, tourism is one of the sectors that suffered great damage worldwide as a result of the spread of the pandemic. However, I would like to emphasize the fact that while the Georgian tourism sector was also damaged during the crisis period, in previous years, Georgia was one of the world leaders in terms of tourism development and, most importantly, the tourism sector formed 8.1 percent of the country's economy.

In 2019 alone, Georgia received a record number of international travelers – 9.4 million visitors – which, of course, is a great success for a country of 3.7 million,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that from the outset, Georgia set two main goals in the fight against the global pandemic: The protection of the health and the lives of its citizens and the survival of the economy.

“It is noteworthy that we are actively developing infrastructure in Georgia, which stimulates rapid economic growth and the development of the country, as well as the development of the tourism sector. In addition, we facilitate the raising of awareness of the country through active campaigns and international events, we ensure the improvement of the quality of service, the creation of a safe and favorable environment in the country, and the promotion of employment in the tourism sector; we create new tourism products and facilitate new direct flights which, of course, contribute to the integration of the country's economy into the global economy, as well as the development of the tourism network.

The Georgian tourism sector, with its uniqueness and the aforementioned events, will be one of the leaders in terms of the challenges of the existing competition and it will make a case for being one of the leading countries in global tourism. 

From the outset, Georgia has set two main goals in the fight against the global pandemic: The protection of the health and the lives of its citizens and the survival of the economy. Tourism has played one of the main roles in the government's Anti-Crisis Plan, and it will continue to do so until global tourism recovery trends begin to emerge. We supported the tourism sector and will continue to do so with various programs, benefits, tax deferrals, and other instruments,” Giorgi Gakharia emphasized.

The Head of the Government noted that Georgia has managed to keep the status of a green country, emerging as one of the safest destinations in the international arena.

“Georgia has managed to keep the status of a green country. Today, Georgia is one of the safest destinations in the international arena, and that enables us to launch a new post-pandemic phase of the country’s economic development,” Giorgi Gakharia stated.

He said that the post-crisis era must be used by Georgia as an opportunity for the tourism sector, and the economic crisis and pandemic must be turned into a way to develop the country’s tourism.

“One of the most important global events in the post-crisis period will involve strong emphasis on reviving tourism, and we want to be pioneers in this process, in doing which we can rely on our experience accumulated in tourism safety. We believe that the post-crisis era must be used by Georgia as an opportunity for the tourism sector, and we seek to turn the economic crisis and pandemic into an opportunity for developing tourism.

"I am convinced this visit will make a lasting impression on you, and the event will be a success,” Gakharia said.

The 112th Session of the UNWTO Executive Council, the first event with an unprecedentedly high level of representation in the post-pandemic world, is hosted by Georgia on September 16-17. The session’s delegates include senior representatives of Spain, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.

The session is held in full compliance with the guidelines and safety rule of the World Health Organization and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia.

A tourism investment panel will also be held under the high-level UNWTO event.