Iliauni Students to Develop New Tourist Routes in Mtskheta
The students majoring in tourism management at Ilia Chavchavadze State University have received a new proposal by the Department of Tourism of Georgia. They were offered to develop projects aimed at developing regional tourism as well as new tourist routes in Mtskheta.
"The Tourism Department is experiencing lack of staff and here we feel the potential of future qualified employees", this is how Mr. Petre Kankava ended his speech made during the scientific and practical conference held in Ilia Chavchavadze State University on May 30. The major topic addressed by the conference was tourism perspectives of Old Tbilisi. The students unveiled about 30 works on the condition of historical and cultural monuments of Old Tbilisi, ecological problems in Old Tbilisi, development prospects for old streets etc. According to students, Old Tbilisi is a unique space for tourists and restoring its historical appearance and developing the area would contribute to the promotion of Old Tbilisi as a tourist attraction.
Mr. Zviad Archuadze, head of the Economic Policy Agency of Tbilisi City Hall, said Old Tbilisi routes developed by the students for the conference would be installed in the capital as information boards. Mr. Koba Arabuli, head of the Tourism Center of Ilia Chavchavadze State University, who was one of the initiators of the exhibition-conference, said that the charm of Old Tbilisi lies in its oldness therefore the historical appearance of the district, once dubbed "Oriental Paris" by Alexander Duma should be restored.
At the end of the conference, Mr. Petre Kankava, head of the Department of Tourism, handed over special certificates to the students and noted that their views would be taken into account in the development of the capital.