The hotels located in the region of Racha say about the  increase in tourists. Representatives of the hotels interviewed by "Commersant" say that Racha, despite the poor road infrastructure, hosts an unprecedentedly large number of tourists.

They say in the "Sunset Shovi" hotel that the number of visitors  increased by 30-40 percent compared to last year; the majority of tourists are Georgians, however, there are foreigners from Russia, Lithuania and the United States.

Despite the fact that  access road to Shovi is not fully rehabilitated, the tourists book rooms in advance . One day in "Sunset Shovi" costs on average $ 60 per  person (including 3 meals a day).

Management of the family-type  hotel  "Saba”  located in Ambrolauri also talks about tourists growth. The hotel management explains that the number of tourists increased 20-30 percent, although the reason is unknown.

The avergae vacation in the hotel "Saba" costs 15-20 lari per  personper day  (without food).

Two months ago the head of the Economic Development Department of Oni  District Administration David Razmadze told “Commersant” that  after the Soviet period the Shovi resort had  not  been developed, but still continued to receive tourists.  He noted  that the road rehabilitation works were underway  which would  be over in the first half of  2017.

A total of GEL  10 million were allocated from the budget  for the purpsoe. In Razmadze’s  words, the economic situation in the region will improve as soon as works are completed.

When asked whether the Oni Municipality is going to develop  the  resort, Razmadze says that the local authorities  began to work on developing    potential of the region  a year ago. In particular, the Partnership Fund (PF) carried out a special survey. In Razmadze’s words, the Fund is likely to commence the  development of the region of Shovi in the near future.

In March Prime Ministerof Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili  said the Georgian government was working on the development of year-round resorts. He said that  a new infrastructure was being created both in the mountain resorts and  throughout Georgia as well as  new tourism products were being developed.

Source:commersant.ge