MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili attended the presentation of the new project of the National Tourism Administration – Mziskari, which was created to promote gastronomic tourism in the country.

The event was also attended by the representatives of the tourism sector, as well as those of family restaurants that will join the Mziskari network in the future.

In his welcome speech, the First Vice Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the tourism sector and noted that the share of this sector in the growth of the economy is particularly crucial.

"The most important thing is that tourism is an inclusive industry. Many of our citizens are involved in this sector in all the regions of the country. We expect that by 2024, the economy will receive up to 4 billion USS income from the tourism sector" – Levan Davitashvili stated.

The Minister noted that the gastro-tourism, agro-tourism, wine tourism, adventure eco-tourism and other direction of the sector are gradually becoming more popular in the world and Georgia has great potential in all these directions.

The First Vice Prime Minister focused on the projects aimed at the development of gastronomic tourism in Georgia. "We saw that there is a great potential for hospitality in the regions of Georgia. I think the Mziskari is a very good initiative. Our country historically has traditions of gastronomy, feasting, hospitality, which are important elements to make it a tourist product for local as well as international visitors. At the same time, it is very important for the so-called rural development, regional development, inclusiveness, promotion of family farming. So, this project has a huge significance, including social, cultural, regional and other aspects" – Levan Davitashvili noted and emphasized the fact that the project includes financial support for its participants. For this reason, the Enterprise Georgia Agency has prepared a special offer.

"I think that this project will really support many very important initiatives, allow many talented people to reach success and turn their activities into more prosperous commercial projects in the future," –Levan Davitashvili said.

The head of the National Tourism Administration, Maya Omiadze, and the Deputy Director of the Enterprise Georgia Agency, Irakli Gabriadze, held presentations of the Mziskari project.

The project aims at promoting the development of a new, niche offer in the direction of gastro tourism and to unite host families throughout the country offering this service, which, in addition to the food characteristic to the region, offer guests to get to know the traditions of local hospitality in an authentic, family environment, participate in the process of preparing different dishes, and offer a gastronomic interpretation.

The tourism administration offers a number of supporting activities to the host families in the Mziskari network: individual trainings and consultations to improve the quality of the service; food safety; interior and exterior design; creation/diversification of dishes, menu development and formation of a competitive offer. As for the Enterprise Georgia Agency’s access to finance component, the Agency prepared an offer specially tailored to the needs of the Mziskari members, according to which the accrued interest rate of the loan is fully subsidized, and in the case of a fully utilized loan, the cashback amounts to 25%.

At this stage, 8 objects representing different regions of Georgia are united in the Mziskari project network.