Tourism revenue is a significant contributor to Georgia’s economy. For the past several years Georgia’s tourist destinations have been actively promoted inside the country as well as abroad. While development of tourism is one of the main priorities for Georgia, visitors often find tourist destinations covered in litter and chaotic.

Development of tourism potential  holds a significant part in the 2014-2021 Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Regional Development Strategy, approved by the Government of Georgia on 18 September 2013. The document lists strategic goals and missions that are prioritized by the government, including:

• multifaceted development of the tourism industry;

• proper maintenance of infrastructure investments and development of the seaside recreational zone in Anaklia and Ganmukhuri;

• development of sailing and rafting around Martvili Caves and Enguri river.

TI Georgia’s representatives visited and examined the following tourist destinations in Senaki: Nokalakevi Architectural-Archeological Museum-Reserve; in Martvili: Gochkadili Canyon; in Khoni: Okatse Canyon and Dadiani Palace in Gordi village (even though Okatse Canyon and Gordi village are not located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, tourists usually visit these four locations as part of one tour). We also visited Anaklia seaside resort in Zugdidi, which has become a popular destinations for holiday and leisure.

Below we present information and photo material from places visited:

(Photos taken on 30 August 2015)

Okatse Canyon, a natural monument in the  Zeda Gordi village, Khoni

Infrastructure at the Okatse Canyon is well maintained. In 2013-2014 GEL 4.85 million was spent on maintaining and upgrading facilities: a Visitor Center and a 5 km long path, going across the 20-100m deep valley, were constructed. According to the Agency of Protected Areas, 32 333 tourists  visited the Okatse Canyon in the period of January 2015 to August 2015. A representative from the Visitor Center told us that the center is responsible for keeping the area clean; it is cleaned every two days and no one has, thus far, been fined for littering in the area. According to the Visitor Center, fines will be enforced from January 2016. The surroundings of the Visitor Center were clean, however the area around the path was littered with plastic bottles, plastic bags, cups and cans.

Gordi Palace, former summer residence of House of Dadiani, Prince of Samegrelo

The palace was built in 1840s, and 80 acres of land around it was appropriated for a garden. The palace was demolished after the occupation of Georgia by Soviet Russia, and the area is still neglected. There are a lot of domestic animals in the yard of the palace; visitors often have fires in the gardens and the whole area of the garden is covered in litter from what they leave behind; and motor vehicles are also used for transportation in the garden, leading to its further degradation.

According to the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, the palace and the garden have a status of a cultural heritage monument. However, the palace and the garden have not been restored or renovated in any way. In 2006, only an inventory was conducted. The remaining walls of the palace are damaged and are in need of immediate reinforcement/preservation. It is also very important to put a fence around the garden and to clean up the area.

The 2012-2017 Strategy for Development of Imereti Region, approved by the government on 5 September 2012, considered rehabilitation of the Dadiani Palace in the village Gordi in 2012-2014. No reconstruction works have been conducted. In the 2014-2021 strategy published on the web page of Imereti Regional Administration rehabilitation of the Dadiani Palace in the village Gordi is not mentioned.  

(Photos taken on 30 August 2015)

Gochkadili Canyon — a natural monument in the village Gachedili, Martvili municipality.

There is no Visitor Center in the Gochkadili Canyon, some infrastructure has been built around the area by the local population, most of the buildings are unregulated cafes. There are only 5 trash cans around the area of the Canyon. As the local population told us, they periodically clean up the area, however the whole area is still covered in litter. A sign from the Agency of Protected Areas prohibits: entry in the area during bad weather or without safety vests, littering, taking glass bottles in the area, entry when intoxicated, lighting fires, smoking, picnicking, among other activities. However, all these rules are violated daily and none of the agencies enforce them. A Visitor Center in the Gochkadili Canyon was planned to be built in September of this year.

(Photos taken on 30 August 2015)

Architectural-Archeological Museum-Reserve of Nokalakevi is situated in the village of Nokalakevi, Senaki municipality. The capital of the ancient kingdom of Egrisi was situated here in IV-VIII centuries. Domestic animals (dogs, cows, goats) freely roam the area, which is littered with remains of glass, plastic bottles and other waste. There are no trash cans.   

(Photos taken on 30 August 2015)

Anaklia — a village and seaside resort in the Zugdidi municipality. In recent years several hotels and a seaside boulevard have been constructed in Anaklia. Periodically various types of large scale events take place here. With the exception of  the surroundings of the hotels, other areas, such as the boulevard and the seaside are not cleaned up, thereare no trash cans, outdoor light poles and palm trees in the boulevard are damaged. There is a lot of various types of waste on the beach, cows roam the boulevard.  

(Photos taken on 28 August 2015)

Environmental Pollution is one of the main global problems today. Risks and dangers associated with waste management systems are universally known, therefore, every public agency or citizen is obliged to take care of the environment and to preserve biodiversity.

In TI Georgia’s view:

• All important tourist destinations should have a Visitor Center to ensure that the visitors get complete and high quality service. A Visitor Center would allow for a statistical analysis of the number of visitors and revenue from tourism,  safety will be ensured and visitors will be able to use guide services and to rent appropriate equipment.

• Measures for environmental protection must be implemented at tourist destinations, trash cans must be installed and the areas must be cleaned on daily basis.

• Appropriate agencies must follow the “Code on Waste Management” and the “Code of Administrative Violations” and fine citizens for polluting the environment, including tourist areas.

• Safety of tourists must be ensured in canyons and in  areas of low accessibility, it should be possible to hire safety vests and other necessary equipment in the tourist or visitor centers.

• Tourism administration, Agency of Protected Areas and other appropriate agencies must ensure proper maintenance and infrastructure at tourist destinations, which in turn will significantly increase the number of visitors and will positively affect the country’s economy.  

• In August of this year, the Municipal Development Fund of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia gave 13 units of special equipment to the municipalities of Ozurgeti, Zugdidi and Poti for cleaning up the seaside areas. It is important that the whole area of the seaside zone be cleaned with this equipment, and not just select parts, so that tourists have an opportunity to visit the places they desire.

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