Adjara tourism challenged by new initiatives: Georgian economists

Tbilisi, after giving the go-ahead to opening up the western port town of Poti as a free industrial zone, is planning to extend the project to seaside Batumi as well, despite some opposition from local economists.

David Narmania, chairman of Georgia’s Young Economists’ Association, says Batumi has much more to gain as a tourist zone than an industrial one, as its port’s capacities are limited and Adjara is traditionally a tourist destination.

By July 15 this year it had already hosted 90 000 tourists, a 29 percent increase since last year’s season, and Temur Diasamidze, head of Adjara’s Tourism and Resorts Department, expects up to half a million more before this season’s end.

Georgian leadership proposals include the whole of Adjara in the industrial zone much to the Adjaran government’s enthusiasm, as the zones will likely attract big investors and create a myriad of opportunities for the local economy.