MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

In order to support the private sector of tourism, the National Tourism Administration has launched a new initiative - the Tourism Support Fund - with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Economic Security Program.

The main task of the foundation is to support companies involved the in tourism in the direction of equal co-financing of their digital marketing campaigns and promotion of digital marketing. Within the framework of the initiative, companies working in the tourism sector in different regions of Georgia will be selected based on the competition and pre-established criteria.

Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Natia Turnava, met with the representatives of the USAID Economic Security Program regarding the establishment of the fund. Deputy Minister of Economy, Mariam Kvrivishvili and Acting Head of the National Tourism Administration, Medea Janiashvili also attended the meeting.

As Natia Turnava stated after the meeting, the United States Agency for International Development provides assistance to Georgia in many ways to allow it to revive the economy and overcome the post-pandemic conditions.

“One of the important programs that was launched before the pandemic, but this time will be re-launched with new objectives and new strength, is the tourism supporting programme. Today we talked and we can announce the establishment of a special fund with the help of the US programme. In the first stage, the fund will help small and medium-sized businesses operating in the tourism sector, increase their awareness and make the whole world aware that Georgia is one of the safest tourism industries despite the pandemic. Small hotels will be able to reach all the potential international visitors with the help of this programme and the Government,” – Natia Turnava stated.

Marketing campaign consists of two phases: the first phase focusing on spring and summer promotions, and the second separating fall and winter travellers. The project will help to revive the sector in terms of post-pandemic period and present the services of the industry and the tourism potential of the country locally as well as at the international level.

At the initial stage, with the help of the Foundation, over 100 companies representing the tourism sector were selected on the basis of a competition, which will participate in this initiative. Target sectors of the fund include small and medium-sized hotels, family-type hotels, restaurants and small and medium-sized wineries in the region.

The initiative aims to support tourism as one of the most affected areas in the face of the negative impact caused b the Coronavirus pandemic.