Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi: Promoting Tourism Opportunities Through Cooperation

Recently, Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi, Georgia received an interview from WTCF. Kaladze shared his thoughts on the Fragrant Hills Summits and Tbilisi's cooperation with WTCF.

Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi

WTCF: In the past decade, the WTCF held the famous world tourism brand event Fragrant Hills Tourism Summits annually. What is the positive side of holding Fragrant hills Tourism Summits to promote communication between cities?

Kakha Kaladze: On behalf of Tbilisi Municipality City Hall and as a Mayor of Tbilisi, I would like to take the opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude for our fruitful partnership and for this wonderful offer as well.

Tbilisi became a member of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) in 2019. In accordance with the core idea “Tourism Makes City Life Better”, the main purpose of the cooperation was to promote exchanges and collaboration among member cities in the tourism sector, to strengthen international changes among member destinations and to promote coordinated economic and social development of various cities.

WTCF Fragrant Hills Tourism Summits are a great opportunity to bring together delegates from various destinations, including mayors and decision-makers from all around the world. Tbilisi had the honour of attending the summit in Helsinki in 2019, where the various products of our city were presented and the tourism potential of Tbilisi was promoted.  Accordingly, Tbilisi's participation in the Helsinki Summit had great importance for increasing the city's awareness and attracting visitors and ultimately contributed to the growth of tourist flows in Tbilisi and Georgia.

Tbilisi definitely is one of the most ancient, mysterious, vivid and colourful cities in the world. The capital of Georgia is distinguished by a number of features that attract, fetch and fascinate every visitor. Its diverse architecture, enigmatic courtyards with Art Nouveau buildings, old houses with wooden balconies and cozy, narrow streets are mostly famed for their significance and beauty. WTCF continuously supports Tbilisi to facilitate exchanges and cooperation among members, share the experience of tourism city development, promote tourism products and resources and contribute to the development and prosperity of the world tourism industry.

WTCF: What benefits your city/country through the cooperation with WTCF? And what kind of services does your city expect WTCF to provide?

Kakha Kaladze: The mutual cooperation of WTCF and our city is a great opportunity to promote various tourism opportunities Tbilisi offers, to raise the awareness of its distinguished tourism products and to strengthen and intensify our bilateral links.

Tbilisi is gradually gaining its popularity throughout the world. The capital of Georgia is already famed for its ancient history, multifarious gastronomy, diverse architecture and city break opportunities.  The friendly environment, its tolerance towards foreigners, stunning views, narrow paved streets illuminated with glittering lights, delicious cuisine and a big warm smile that greets every visitor of the city from the very moment of his/her arrival – you can’t help but fall in love with.

Being a member of your respectful organization is an excellent opportunity to share experiences, information and best practices of cities around the world. Please remember, Tbilisi City Hall is always ready to cooperate with WTCF and bring mutually beneficial results to our destinations.

WTCF: In your opinion, what should WTCF do to become an international tourism organization with global influence?

Kakha Kaladze: WTCF already is a worldwide organization, successfully fulfilling its main vision of “better city life through tourism” and continuously supporting the bilateral communications between the member cities. Sincerely hope, the contribution you are providing to the development of tourism throughout the world’s cities, will endure and deepen the fruitful cooperation between the members, will raise the awareness of all destinations and therefore, will help to achieve all the goals you set.