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Public governance and civil society play an important role in the preservation of the environmental and cultural values of the specific region of Tusheti. This area is an interesting study object also due to its unique governing model and different management issues including the historical background of the region and the current growth of tourism. In the region, where there is a significant number of initiatives supported by donors, a management plan for the protected landscape was prepared and put into practice and selected measures were implemented. Our evaluation of the activities was focused on relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impacts and sustainability of outcomes. On the basis of the formulated conclusions, a few recommendations related to process and system nature, implementation and replicability of approaches are suggested. The results show an increase in tourism in the region, which leads to an improvement in the quality of life of the local population. On the other hand, it represents a threat to natural and cultural values, historical identity and uniqueness. The Management Plan is an excellent platform for stakeholder cooperation and implementation of specific measures to protect this exceptional territory.
Juraj Svajda; Lukas Malac; Lela Khartisvili. Balancing development and conservation needs of stakeholders in the Tusheti Protected Landscape. Journal of Mountain Science 2020, 17, 709 -723.
AMA StyleJuraj Svajda, Lukas Malac, Lela Khartisvili. Balancing development and conservation needs of stakeholders in the Tusheti Protected Landscape. Journal of Mountain Science. 2020; 17 (3):709-723.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJuraj Svajda; Lukas Malac; Lela Khartisvili. 2020. "Balancing development and conservation needs of stakeholders in the Tusheti Protected Landscape." Journal of Mountain Science 17, no. 3: 709-723.
The association agreement (AA) between the European Union (EU) and Georgia (AA 2014) and the EU–Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA 2017) promote the “development and promotion of, inter alia, community-based tourism” (AA 2014:116). It emphasizes the engagement of local communities in the process of planning and implementing tourism, including equality in decision-making (Khartishvili et al 2019). However, there is a knowledge gap with respect to what the community-based tourism (CBT) concept means in these countries. Tourism in both countries today differs from the structures common during Soviet times and is going through a transition period because of pressures from international tourists, who demand high-quality competitive tourism experiences, especially in mountainous areas. At the same time, tourism has become an integral part of the strategy documents of different ministries and institutions; however, intersectional cooperation is lacking. Several international initiatives are facilitating this transition and supporting links between local service providers and tourism operators (Bakhtadze-Englaender 2019).
Lela Khartishvili; Tamara Mitrofanenko; Andreas Muhar; Marianne Penker. Issues with Applying the Concept of Community-Based Tourism in the Caucasus. Mountain Research and Development 2020, 40, R11 .
AMA StyleLela Khartishvili, Tamara Mitrofanenko, Andreas Muhar, Marianne Penker. Issues with Applying the Concept of Community-Based Tourism in the Caucasus. Mountain Research and Development. 2020; 40 (1):R11.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLela Khartishvili; Tamara Mitrofanenko; Andreas Muhar; Marianne Penker. 2020. "Issues with Applying the Concept of Community-Based Tourism in the Caucasus." Mountain Research and Development 40, no. 1: R11.
Tourism in rural regions of Georgia has a long tradition; however, many structures had been developed during Soviet times under the framework of a centrally planned economy and forced collectivism. Today, Rural Tourism is widely discussed by the national government and international cooperation partners as a means for regional development and as an alternative source of employment in agricultural areas and mountain regions. The purpose of this study is to develop suggestions for the institutionalization of Rural Tourism in the country and to propose relevant actions. Research methods comprised a document analysis, qualitative interviews with various stakeholders, and focus group discussions. We analyzed recent tendencies and challenges of rural tourism development in Georgia with a focus on the concept of community-based tourism and integrated rural development. We also review the challenges of the current structure of tourism marketing on the national level with regard to Rural Tourism products. The key findings of the research include recommendations to create a central leading structure for rural tourism at the national level, which will work on strategic issues and general norms of Rural Tourism. At the same time, we propose the development of destination management organizations, which will integrate general provisions in regional legislation and marketing in close cooperation with local stakeholders.
Lela Khartishvili; Andreas Muhar; Thomas Dax; Ioseb Khelashvili. Rural Tourism in Georgia in Transition: Challenges for Regional Sustainability. Sustainability 2019, 11, 410 .
AMA StyleLela Khartishvili, Andreas Muhar, Thomas Dax, Ioseb Khelashvili. Rural Tourism in Georgia in Transition: Challenges for Regional Sustainability. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (2):410.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLela Khartishvili; Andreas Muhar; Thomas Dax; Ioseb Khelashvili. 2019. "Rural Tourism in Georgia in Transition: Challenges for Regional Sustainability." Sustainability 11, no. 2: 410.