Turkish Company to Organize Heli-skiing Tours in Mestia

TBILISI - Turkish helicopter company Guneydogu Havacilik Isletmesias is to begin organizing Heli-skiing tours and serve tourist groups in Mestia.

The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MoE) has approved the company’s application on implementing operations in the Mestia resort zone from March to April, 2016.

The company plans to operate in the Mestia resort zone in cooperation with the Georgian SkiGeorgia Group. The flights will be performed by the company owned Eurocopter AS 350 83 in favorable weather conditions in accordance with visual flight regulations (VFR).

Heli-skiing is a type of extreme sport which uses a helicopter to transfer skiers and snowboarders into otherwise inaccessible off-trail areas. Adventure tourism followers often book tours in advance, before the winter season begins.

The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency approved the third application on the fulfilment of flights in the winter resort zones of Georgia. Helicopters of German HTM Helicopter Travel Munich GmbH and Austrian Wucher Helikopter Gmbh already operate in the Gudauri resort zone.

According to the MoE, operating companies will contribute to developing winter tourism in Georgia, attracting foreign tourists to the country’s ski resorts and creating a more comfortable environment for winter tourism.

Ana Akhalaia