Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister, on Thursday highlighted it was “very symbolic” that the main theme of this year’s World Tourism Day occasion was Peace and Tourism, in comments at a reception for participants arriving in Tbilisi to attend events dedicated to the annual date.
“We all understand well how important peace is, especially amid the current global challenges in the region and beyond. Peace is of utmost importance for well-being, success, and also for sustainable tourism”, Davitashvili emphasised.
The Economy Minister noted the “great” importance and “even greater” potential of tourism for Georgia’s economy, saying it accounted for more than 10 percent of the country’s GDP as it encompassed “every region of our country” and “countless families” involved in developing the industry.
In his address at the Ceremonial Palace of Georgia, Davitashvili also pointed out that the significance of tourism went “beyond business and economics” and was “primarily about hospitality”, describing it as the “strongest feature of Georgian tourism” and an “inseparable part of our identity”.
“It is an indisputable fact that when a foreigner visits our country, by the end of their visit, they leave as a friend of Georgia, not just a visitor. Therefore, I am sure that when you travel home, you will miss Georgia and will certainly visit us again”, he added.
The Georgian capital city of Tbilisi is hosting World Tourism Day, an annual event held under the auspices of the UN World Tourism Organisation and marked since 1979, for the first time.
Government officials, representatives of international organisations and the tourism industry from around the world are hosted in the city, with discussion panels focusing on global tourism trends and the role of peace in fostering industry development.
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