According to the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Adjarian
Autonomous Republic, this exhibition is aimed at promoting Georgia’s
tourism potential, introducing Adjarian region to different countries
and putting ground to new business contacts.
“Our government has pledged GEL 130,000 from the budget of Tourism
Department to organize this exhibition. The sum includes hiring
technical equipment, organizing exhibition stands and covering
marketing expenses,” Malkhaz Malakmadze, Head of the Marketing and
Advertising Department of the Tourist and Resorts Department of Adjara
says.
“However, this sum allocated for organizing the exhibition is not enough,” Malakmadze notes.
“The department of tourism and resorts of Georgia supports this project
financially as well as organizationally. Travel companies, agencies and
associations, carrier and insurance companies, commercial banks and
investment funds, regional administration, development companies, real
estate companies, advertising companies and different publishing houses
will attend the event,” Malakmadze told The FINANCIAL. Malkhaz
Malakmadze says that the objective of this exhibition will be promotion
of tourism in regions of Georgia.
“We are working on new touristic products. Forums, conferences and
presentations give good opportunity for strengthening the partnership
between representatives of governmental and non-governmental sectors.
The exhibition is a good chance for businesses to promote their
products,” Malakmadze says.
The idea of holding the tourism exhibition belongs to Tourist and Resorts Department of Adjara.
“While working on long term strategy of Adjarian tourism industry
development, one of the most prioritized directions was to develop MICE
tourism. It is the kind of tourism, which considers seminars in
regions, conferences, festivals, different sport and cultural
arrangements, business forums and exhibition-markets. By focusing on
this strategy, we decided to organize both tourism and trade-industrial
exhibitions,” Malakmadze says.
“It encourages raising Adjarian image as tourism region and attracting
new investments. Development of MICE tourism direction, gives a good
opportunity to diversify seasonal tourism. At first stage, government
supports developing this direction. After attracting the needed
investments and making exhibition participant companies interested in
our activities we will be able to continue working without active help
of the government,” Malakmadze states.
Company Calypso Travel has been named as the winner in tender held by Tourism Department of Adjara.
“Calypso Travel has been successfully working on the tourist market
since 2004, and today we take pride in our vast experience providing a
full range of incoming tours for individuals and tourist groups from
different countries,” Officials of the company Calypso state.
“The exhibition will be held from May 8 to May 10 in the Ice Palace of
Batumi,” ING a Malakhmadze General Manager of the Company Calypso
Travel says.
According to ING a Malakhmadze, this exhibition had to be held a bit early on European Square.
“Initially, exhibition was planned to be held on European Square, but
the government made a decision to change the date and location,” ING a
Malakhmadze told The FINANCIAL.
“The nearby territory of European Square in Batumi is under
construction. Buildings and subways are being reconstructed. Therefore
it would not be convenient to have this exhibition there,” Malkhaz
Malakmadze says..
According to the Tourism and Resorts Department of Adjara,, tourism
exhibition participants will include Georgian as well as local
governing bodies, tour operators and agencies like: Agency of
Georgia’s’ protected territories, Kobuleti Tourism Professional
Educational Center, Hotel Georgian Palace, Adjarian Municipalities,
Museum Union, Adjarian Tourism Association.
“Armenian Tourism Department, Ukrainian Tourism company Inturs Kiev ,
tourism journal Ukrainian tourism, and Lithuanian Tourism Association
are just a few of exhibition participants,” Malakmadze says.
Department of Tourist and Resorts of Adjara says that, before Russian
aggression in August 2008, the number of visitors in Adjaria increased
by 25.4% in comparison with 2007.
“The number of local visitors rose by approximately 30.2% and by 17.1%
in foreigners’ case. After August war in Georgia the number of tourists
has drastically decreased and in 2008, 19.1% fewer tourists visited
Adjara as to 2007. The total number of tourists in Adjaria in 2008 was
285,000” Malkhaz Malakmadze says.
“The tourist exhibition in Batumi will be successful. It will support
the popularization of Georgia’s tourism image, better introduction of
Adjarian region to other countries and making new business contacts.
Such exhibitions should be organized in Georgia every year. Batumi has
its geographical advantages and in future, it can become a center for
holding such arrangements,” Malkhaz Malakmadze states.
“It is planned to hold one exhibition during non-tourism season,
traditionally in spring or autumn. During this period tourism
infrastructure objects will be occupied. The exhibition is visited www.finchannel.com not
only by the participators but also by those who take part in planned
cultural arrangements. Exhibition enables people working in tourism to
establish new business relations, offer new tourism products. All of
that combined supports the development of tourism in the region,”
Malakmadze says.
source FINANCIAL March 30, 2009
www.finchannel.com
