Page 44 - GEOGRptJun19

road and rail, six ports, and 11 logistics centres.
The agreement on the maps extending the TEN-T to the Eastern partnership countries entered into force on 9 January.
“The completion of the Indicative TEN-T Investment Action Plan is a joint commitment to deliver tangible results for citizens across the region. The Plan will assist decision-makers in prioritising strategic investments in transport infrastructure with the aim of completing the TEN-T network defined as one of the 20 deliverables for 2020 in the Joint Declaration of the last Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels,” EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn said.
“Enhanced transport connectivity both within the Eastern Partnership region, and between the Eastern Partnership region and the EU has the potential to bolster economic growth and create job opportunities. The Plan shall also serve to highlight the importance of road safety as well as digital solutions in new projects, and to align design standards with current EU practices,” added EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc.
9.1.4 Tourism sector news
The Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia has announced that a large development project is to begin at Dashbashi Canyon in the country’s Tsalka region, Georgia Today reported .
The project, costing $60mn, will include the construction of a 240-metre long bridge across the canyon, as well as a zip line, restaurant and hotel. A space will also be created for musical festivals, with a capacity for 100,000 people. Carved by the Ktsia River, Dashbashi Canyon is known for its natural diversity and beautiful landscape. There are numerous waterfalls along the 8-km length of the canyon which help to keep its incline green and luscious.
Krass Land, a Georgian company founded with Israeli investments, will oversee the project which is expected to be completed by July 2020. It will operate the facilities over a 45-year period, during which time it will pay 5% of its turnover as a fee.
The number of visitors in Georgia’s four winter resorts of Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Svaneti increased by 578% during the 2018-2019 season compared to 2011-2012 and by 15% compared to 2017-2018.
New luxury hotel Wyndham Grand Tbilisi has opened in the Georgian capital following Israeli investments amounting to $48mn, agenda.ge reported.
Located in a historical neighbourhood of Tbilisi, the hotel incorporates 158 rooms, with 17 top-class, conference rooms. It includes a presidential suite. Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze attended the hotel opening ceremony. He reportedly said that the Wyndham Grand Tbilisi would increase Tbilisi’s prestige, especially at a time when “Georgia is one of the fastest-growing destinations in the world”.
Bakhtadze thanked the investors for their large-scale investments and for handing over a property space of 3,650 square metres to the Georgian National Museum.
“The hotel is in perfectly harmony with the museum neighbourhood. Importantly, a space by the project has been handed to the national museum, and that is a clear example of how a socially responsible business and culture should cooperate,” Bakhtadze said.
He added that the government’s economic strategy sought to transform Georgia into a regional economic hub where every investor would feel that the
44 GEORGIA Country Report June 2019 www.intellinews.com