Tourism Development in Focus at Georgian-Swiss Business Forum
After signing a memorandum with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) for future collaboration in Bern on June 27, the Georgian delegation, headed by the Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, held a number of meetings with their Swiss colleagues. The Georgian side presented the country’s economic potential and its business-friendly environment.
PM Kvirikashvili highlighted that a free trade deal with the EFTA, which units Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway, is one of the most important achievements for Georgia’s economy and opens a 14 million consumer market.
Additionally, Georgia already has a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) deal with the European Union (EU), free trade with Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a preferential export regime (GSP) with the United States (US), Canada, and Japan, and the country expects to sign a free trade deal with China by the end of the year.
Kvirikashvili noted that Georgia has all the opportunities to attract Swiss investors, such as open and transparent policies, a preferential investment climate, leading positions on international ratings, a growing economy, an increasing number of Foreign Direct Investments, and more. Moreover, special emphasis was put on companies that already operate in Georgia, like Georgian-Swiss Company Blauenstein Georgia and Joint Stock Company Margebeli, which was established by joint Georgian and Swiss investors.
The Georgian-Swiss Business Forum gathered around 60 Swiss businesspersons in Switzerland's capital Bern on June 28. They showed particular interest in the tourism sector.
“I have the impression that Georgia has huge potential for tourism and there are sectors that can be developed,” said Eric Jakob, Head of Promotion Activities in the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in Switzerland.
In particular, Jakob mentioned the high mountainous region of Georgia, Tusheti. In the framework of the visit of the Georgian delegation, experts from both countries reached an agreement to create a master plan for the development the Tusheti area, which is already one of the top destinations for both tourists and locals alike.
PM Kvirikashvili said the Government of Georgia wished to establish a platform that would carry out studies and analyses about the development of Georgia’s mountainous areas. He stressed the master plans about the development of Georgia's mountainous regions must ensure the preservation of unique local ecosystems and cultural heritage.
Besides Tusheti, the Georgian authorities are also planning to develop other popular tourist mountainous area of the country, including Mestia, Ahmet and Mulakhi.
Eric Jakob added that the Swiss side is also interested in wine tourism. “We agreed with Georgian authorities that we will first cooperate in the wine tourism field. The World Tourism Organization scheduled a conference in September, so we are looking forward to future opportunities to share our experience with Georgia,” said Jakob.
The first Global Conference on Wine Tourism by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will be held in the Kakheti, Eastern Georgia wine region of Georgia from 7-9 September 2016.
Eka Karsaulidze