Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) Workshop

Signagi, Georgia
20-21 December, 2009
15 participants of GTA member companies discussed issues and problems on tourism sector of Georgia and GTA strategy and action plans 2010.
Issues: Incoming and Domestic Tourism, Outgoing Tourism, Cooperation with Governments Organizations, Association development.
The workshop was supported by Department of Tourism and Resorts.
For more information contact info@tourism-association.ge










Regional Tourism Development Workshop

Istanbul, Turkey
December 13-14, 2009

In Istanbul, Turkey 13-14 of December, 2009 held regional Tourism Development Workshop, organized by GTZ and USAD project Academy for Educational Development (AED).
From Georgia were invited 11 participants from different Tourist Companies, by supported of German Technical Cooperation GTZ- Georgia.
Aim of the workshop was regional cooperation, how to promote the regional tourism, creation new regional products, Interest in Regional Tourism Products in International Markets, to Promote Regional Products in South East Europe, was round table discussion: Development of New/Improving the Existing Cross Border Products, B2B meetings, Association meeting about deepening partnership. Plans to create the new working group from each country to continue our partnership.















Sunday, December 6, 2009

GTZ Conference in Sibiu

GTZ Conference on Association Management
in South-East Europe and South Caucasus
Sibiu, 18-19 November
2009

In Romania, Sibiu, 18-19 of November, 2009 held GTZ conference on Association Management in south-East Europe and South Caucasus.
Members of Georgian Tourism Association (GTA): Nata Kvachantiradze ( GTA Board Director) and Giorgi Ebanoidze (Financial Manager of GTA) were invited on the Conference, by supported of German Technical Cooperation GTZ- Georgia.
Aim of the program was to introduce the experience of European Tourism Sector-Associations.
Was exchange the main objectives and the greatest success factor of Associations, was discussion about strategy, management structures and financing of Associations, the presentation of Best-practice-example of Associations. After that was discussion how to improve Services of tourism Associations
GTA took many example from other associations: how to work more useful with the members, how to increase the members list, how to improve the services of associations, how to increase benefits and interest of members to work more useful in association.
From the foreigner Experts from the protected areas GTA took some experience as a new how for the Georgian sustainable tourism development.
Such kind cooperation and support of tourism in Georgia is useful for development of Georgian Tourism Association, as well all Georgian Tourism Sector.












Monday, November 30, 2009

Outcomes of CTS '2009 International Tourism Fair in Yerevan, Armenia

CTS’2009 the 8th International Annual Tourism Fair in Yerevan November 6-7

A delegation from Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) has participated in the International Annual Tourism Fair in Yerevan: Across Georgia, Newkaz, Company Harmony, Georgian Adventure & Tours, Jomardi Club, Ita Georgia.

The fair was organized by Armenian Ministry of Economy, Armenian Association of Travel Agents (AATA) with the support of USAID “Competitive Armenian Private Sector” project.

As a result of the fair Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) together with Armenian Association of Travel Agents (AATA) and Academy for Educational development in Armenia, with supported by GTZ are planning to hold a workshop about tourism development problems and perspectives, about new routes in South Caucasus and Turkey. The Tourism Association from Azerbaijan will be involved also.

The objective is to strengthen the regional cooperation on a private sector and association level.

The workshop is planned to take place in Turkey, Izmir in December, 2009.















Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Algeti National Park

GTA presents Picknickarea in Algeti National Park

In the framework of Eco-Award Project 2009 GTA constructed a picknick area in Algeti National Park in cooperation with the Agency of Protected Areas (APA).
Opening presentation was held on September, 25th.

The area is situated in a network of marked trails and educational paths in a beautiful side valley of Algeti river near the town of Manglisi (60 min from Tbilisi). The place is perfect for the whole family: It offers nature experiences from small walks with children to day-trips or multi-day tours on horseback. Accomodation can be booked in small family guesthouses. An information brochure with a detailed topographical map (see below) is available at GTA and Geoland office.

http://www.tourism-association.ge/
http://www.geoland.ge/


Contact:
info@tourism-association.ge

Direct booking:
Malkhaz Kavtaradze, Director of Algeti National Park (mob 877101801) (geo./russ.)









Saturday, July 18, 2009

10 day-trips around Tbilisi

check out tour descriptions on:
http://travel-in-georgia.blogspot.com


for bookings and contact:
www.tourism-association.ge
info@tourism-association.ge

Monday, June 15, 2009

Vardzia Adventure Race: Impressions















Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Vardzia Adventure Race: Team List

VARDZIA ADVENTURE RACE 6.-7. June 2009

TEAM LIST (not in starting order!)

1. Kfw (Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau)
Contactperson: Michael Andres

2. „Dakuekhi“
Contactperson: Berdia Berishvili

3. American School
Contactperson: Grag Zedmac

4. Across Georgia
Contactperson: Giorgi Ebanoidze

5. Department of Tourism and Resorts of Georgia (DoTR)
Contactperson: Nata Partskhaladze

6. Voyage Georgia (Bank of Georgia)
Contactperson: Davit Arabuli

7. gamocdebis erovnuli centri (NAEC)
Contactperson: Ivane Mindadze

8. SDC_Team1 (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)
Contactperson: Derek Mueller

9. SDC_Team2
Contactperson: Ia tsagareishvili

10. “Edelweiss”
Contactperson: Valerian Dundua

11. საქართველოს სpელეოლოგთა კავშირი
Contactperson: Mamuka Nikoladze

12. beberi kvici anu ar dagvikargavs imedi
Contactperson: Nemsadze Vakhtang

13. Association for the Promotion of Cycling in Georgia (APCG)
Contactperson: Tobias Garstecki

14. Rustavi2
Contactperson: Irina Tkemaladze

15. Financial
Contactperson: Zviad Fochkhua

16.Municipality of Aspindza
Contactperson: Konstantine Butskhrikidze

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Vardzia Adventure Race 6.- 7. June 2009





Tuesday, March 31, 2009

CTF 2009 Symposium Program, 4th April 2009

Caucasus Tourism Fair (CTF) 2009 Symposium:
"Country- & Regional Branding for Tourism"
April, 4th 2009

Venue: ExpoGeorgia Fairgrounds. 118, Tsereteli Ave. Tbilisi, Georgia

Program:

10.00 am - 10.10 am Welcome by organizers

Part I: CTF Symposium: Country- & Regional Branding for
Tourism Development Georgia - Armenia


10.10 am - 10.30 am: “Country branding & regional cooperation” (Mr. Mekhak
Apresyan, Head of Tourism Department of Armenia)

10.30 am - 10.50 am: “Country branding in crisis situations. Insights from
cooperation with UN-WTO” (Mr. Beka Jakeli, Tourism
Department of Georgia)

10.50 am – 11.10 am: “Role of innovation in Caucasus Region for tourism
development” (Ms. Marina Metreveli, Parliament of
Georgia, Sector Economy and Economic Policy
Committee)

Part II: CTF Symposium: Country- & Regional Branding for
Tourism Development Georgia - Azerbaijan


11.30 am – 11.50 am: “The brand Azerbaijan: Tourism Product Development
between Caucasus Mountains and Caspian Sea” (Nahid
Baghirov. Azerbaijan Travel Association)

11.50 a.m. -12.10 am: “Country branding at International Tourism Trade Fairs”
(Ms. Natalia Partskhaladze, Tourism Department of
Georgia)

12.10 a.m. 12.30 a.m.: Cross border products Georgia - Azerbaijan (Mr. Niko
Kvaratskhelia, Tbilisi University of Economic Relations)

12.30 am- 1.30 pm LUNCH BREAK

Part III: CTF International Symposium

1.30 pm - 1.50 pm: “Potential/demands of regional tourism products &
promising marketing strategies” (Ms. Katarina Klopf, GTZ
Consultant, Austria)

1.50 pm – 2.10 pm: “The role of Private Sector Tourism Associations in
regional cooperation” (Mr. Ertugrul Karaoglu, TURSAB, Turkey)

2.10 pm – 2.30 pm: Regional Cooperation for Tourism Development. Baltic
countries experience. (Mr. Armands Muižnieks, Latvian Tourism Development Agency, Latvia)

2.30 pm – 2.50 pm: “Cross-Boundary National Parks & Regional NP tourism
development” (Mr. Mike Garforth, TACSUS, South Caucasus)

3.10 pm – 3.30 p.m.: BSEC Cooperation in Tourism Development (Ms. Dita
Daniela Drone, UNDP, Greece)

3.30 pm – 5.00 pm: BtoB -Workshop: “Regional Product Development
and Marketing. Future Perspectives and Activities.”



more information: info@tourism-association.ge

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Caucasus Tourism Fair (CTF) 2009 Symposium



4th of April 2009, 10-17h
ExpoGeorgia Fairground
118 Tsereteli Ave.
Tbilisi 0119
Georgia
more information:
or:

Sunday, March 22, 2009

BSEC Working Group on cooperation in Tourism

Meeting of the BSEC Working group on cooperation in Tourism.
Istanbul, BSEC, 9-10 March, 2009

The meeting of the BSEC working Group on cooperation in Tourism was held in Istanbul, at the BSEC Headquarters, on 9-10 March 2009.
Participants from Georgia were Department of Tourism and Resorts (Beka Jakeli – Deputy of Head of Department) and Georgian Tourism Association (Nata Kvachantiradze- Director of Board).

The objective of the workshop was adoption of the two years Action Plan of the Working Group on cooperation in Tourism.

1.) The protocol Establishment the Union of Association of Travel Agencies of the BSEC Member States was adopted.
On the next BSEC Forum the protocol will be signed from the national Associations of Travel and Tourism Agencies.
2.) State of affairs with regards to creating the Web-site on Tourism in the BSEC member states.
Exchange of views and preliminary discussion on creating a common branding of the Black sea region as tourist destination.
3.) Cooperation in the field of Education and Training in Tourism.4.) The representative of the Council of Europe made presentation on ,,The Wine Cultural Tourism Exchange Project” and invites the BSEC to participate in it actively.
5.) Establishment a common BSEC Marketing Council.
6.) The Georgian Side expressed its readiness to establish a Common BSEC Tourism Marketing Council in Georgia. The issue will be discussed at next meeting of the working group.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Caucasus Tourism Fair (CTF) 2009

SOUTH CAUCASUS COOPERATION at CTF 2009, 3rd - 5th April.

In cooperation with Azerbajan and Armenian counterparts Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) is organising several activities at Caucasus Tourism Fair (CTF 2009) :

  • Exposition "Diamonds of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia" , 3rd-5th of April
  • International Symposium: "Country - and Regional Branding" to promote regional cooperation of tourism stakeholders and to facilitate Buisiness to Business contacts (4th of April)
  • Regional BtoB -Workshop for Tourism Companies (5th of April)

The activities at CTF are supported by GTZ Economic Development Project and carried out in partnership with Department of Tourism and Resorts (DoTR) , Expo Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall.

More information: info@tourism-association.ge

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

GTA wins ECO-AWARD Grant

Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) receives first "ECO-AWARDS Program" in Georgia for a project promoting Sustainable Tourism Activities in Georgian National Parks.

The program is supported by BP on behalf of its OIL and Gas Co-venturers and Eurasia Partnership Foundation. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Agency of Protected Areas (APA).

for more information please contact: info@tourism-association.ge

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

GTA celebrates 3 years

GTA celebrated 3 years of existence on 10th of January.

The anniversary party was held in club 24 in Tbilisi together with friends, members, cooperation partners and people who contributed to the development of GTA.

Congratulations!

Friday, January 9, 2009

GTA Strategy Workshop in Telavi

GTA Strategy Workshop 12th/13th December 2008

20 particpants of GTA member companies and invited guests from GTA partner organisation Adjara Tourism Association (ATA) - discussed issues and problems of tourism sector in Georgia and GTA strategy and action plan for 2009.

Issues:

Incoming and domestic tourism
- Infrastructure
- Legislation and Tax law
- Rehabilitation of positive country image
- Cooperation with hotels
- Capacitybuilding for hotel and tourism company staff
- Private Public Partnerships
- Sustainable Tourism

Outgoing and Ticketing
- Cooperation with Airlines
- Cooperation with foreign tourism companies
-Tax law
-Visa Issues
-Tour Operator Trainings

Cooperation with government institutions
- Cooperation with Ministry of Economic Development / Department of Tourism & Resorts
- Cooperation with Ministry of Environment and Agency of Protected Areas

Association development
- Quality Management and certification/ licensing
- Projects and Fundraising for Tourism Development in Georgia
- Marketing and Image of Association, participation at fairs
- Cooperation with (regional) Tourism Associations and other partners
- Membership in international associations
- South Caucasus partnership, regional cooperation

For more information contact GTA board info@tourism-association.ge
The workshop was supported by GTZ Private Sector Development Project.