Tskaltubo could never have been Georgia’s Las Vegas
By M. Alkhazashvili
Thursday, November 15
The government initiative to turn the former resort town of Tskaltubo into a Georgian version of Las Vegas was doomed from the beginning, according to Zurab Butskhrikidze, deputy chair of the parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee.
Tskaltubo, which is famous for its radon-carbonate mineral springs, drew some 125 000 visitors annually during the Soviet Union although this figure had dwindled to around 700 by 2005.
Citing a hope to stimulate business development in the town, the government passed legislation to waive annual casino license fees in Tskaltubo, which stand at GEL 3 million in Tbilisi, and GEL 500 000 in Batumi.
Butskhrikidze recently questioned the logic behind the initiative, saying that there are plenty of casinos in Tbilisi and Batumi and Georgians had no incentive to go to Tskaltubo in order to gamble.
Economist Gia Khukhashvili believes an influential entrepreneur hoping to open a casino in the resort town had pressed the government to pass the legislation.
Tskaltubo, which is famous for its radon-carbonate mineral springs, drew some 125 000 visitors annually during the Soviet Union although this figure had dwindled to around 700 by 2005.
Citing a hope to stimulate business development in the town, the government passed legislation to waive annual casino license fees in Tskaltubo, which stand at GEL 3 million in Tbilisi, and GEL 500 000 in Batumi.
Butskhrikidze recently questioned the logic behind the initiative, saying that there are plenty of casinos in Tbilisi and Batumi and Georgians had no incentive to go to Tskaltubo in order to gamble.
Economist Gia Khukhashvili believes an influential entrepreneur hoping to open a casino in the resort town had pressed the government to pass the legislation.