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5.7% increase in prices of construction materials, pushing the index up by 3.28pp. In annual terms, the average monthly nominal salary of employees in the construction sector was up 3.3%, while prices for machinery dropped by 1.3%.
The Georgian government will allocate GEL30mn (€10.4mn) to finance infrastructure projects in the capital Tbilisi next year and in 2020.
A government statement didn’t specify which projects would receive funding, but said the funding would provide Tbilisi City Hall “free financial resources which will be spent on the development of sports infrastructure.”
“[The] decision is in line with the prime minister's initiative about promoting a healthy lifestyle in the country,” the May 16 statement added.
“Significant attention in this direction will also be paid to Georgia's regions where the government will implement equally important projects.”
Tbilisi wants the number of Georgians taking part in sporting activities to double within the next three years, bringing it closer to the level in European countries. Planned steps include taking an inventory of the sports infrastructure throughout Georgia and carrying out a needs analysis within the next month before drawing up an action plan. As well as investing in sporting facilities, the government plans to address social issues to ensure maximum access to such facilities.
9.1.5 Tourism sector news
More infrastructure investment is needed in mountainous areas of Georgia to allow for tourism development, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said during a visit to the resort of Beshumi (altitude 2,000 metres) in the Ajara region on August 5. The South Caucasus Mountains run through northern Georgia and around 54% of the country’s territory is mountainous, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). “Mountains [have] a special importance and we implement a number of projects in term of infrastructure, water supply, local road rehabilitation and other, though this far from being sufficient,” the prime minister said.
“We need projects that will enable us to turn Adjara into a four-season recreation destination. We will do our best to achieve this goal.”
Bakhtadze referenced the Khulo-Zarzma road rehabilitation project, which starts in 2017 and “has a tremendous importance for the development of our beautiful, mountainous Adjara” but added: “this will not be sufficient either. It is essential to implement all those projects that will enable us to turn Adjara Highlands into a crown jewel of tourism potential of Georgia.”
Iran has officially lodged a complaint with the Georgian Embassy in Tehran over security officials in Georgia forcing Iranian women to remove headscarves, IFP reported on August 18. Stories about the conduct of the officials have spread across social media in recent days. Iranian women wearing the Islamic headscarf or full body chador were reportedly told the garments had to be removed during security checks at Tbilisi airport. The matter might be viewed with some importance by Georgian tourism officials. The year has seen an upward trend in Iranians visiting the South Caucasian nation. Thousands of Iranians flock to nearby Georgia for holidays. Many not so religious Iranians look to the Eastern Orthodox Christian nation for relaxed rules on drinking alcohol and attending nightclubs, while also taking advantage of the low costs of Tbilisi and Batumi. However, a growing number of more religious Shi’ite Muslim Iranians are also travelling to Georgia to see local sites
38 GEORGIA Country Report September 2018 www.intellinews.com