News
Bidzina Ivanishvili: "We are launching a revival project of Tskaltubo spa resort , I believe, that our plan will be successfully implemented and tourist flows will be significantly increased in Gelati, Motsameta, Katskhi Pillar, Prometheus Cave, Sataplia, Okatse Canyon "
“Georgia is a unique country, that we have inherited from our ancestors, considering great history, centuries-old culture and amazing nature of our country, we have everything, including, mountains, seas, mineral waters and even sand, which brings a life-giving energy into our life. Somehow, we have some very distinctive places that can make the most of their potential, aforesaid is the resort Tskaltubo , which has a unique healing, rehabilitation and tourism potential.
However, in the first heady years of independence, the medical and tourist infrastructure was practically destroyed in Tskaltubo. The resort has 22 sanatoriums and 9 balneological baths, which were highly competitive not only across the region but in Eastern Europe as well, unfortunately, we face only one hotel and a completely destroyed infrastructure today. Although, for the third decade in a row, the restoration and development of the resort was unachievable for government and business for many, objective or subjective reasons.
We should admit, that during these years, Georgian government made efforts to improve the infrastructure and attract investments by using the standard method to develop the tourism and medical business environment, however, these attempts appeared to be unsuccessful, as it lacked a comprehensive planning and, most importantly, there wasn’t any guarantee for achieving success, furthermore, the point investing in the separate hotel spa or spa-center seemed to be a high-risk business and it was not unexpected, that business tended to avoid risks in it.
At present, Georgian government has no resources to invest several million GEL for the rehabilitation of the resort, besides, there is no unified strategic development plan and business is stagnating in the country. Therefore, I personally decided to revive Tskaltubo with my own funds and complete not only the full-scale rehabilitation of the fully depreciated tourist and medical infrastructure, but to bring it in line with the modern international standards.
We have already seen, that it is impossible to break the deadlock of resort clusters that have become desolate and depressing places for decades, and therefore, standard approach won’t be good for its rapid development. You need a powerful catalyst, a kind of ice cutting tool to make it work, that .will make the project sustainable and insure the private investment.
The resort Abastumani is the perfect example in this regard, which is as unique as Tskaltubo, but similar to Tskaltubo, the state has failed to attract investors for decades. However, when Abastumani's large-scale development plan and guarantee emerged, private businesses got eagerly engaged in the project. As a result, Abastumani is currently under construction out of six high-class hotels, I have started constructing only one - "paragraph", and other Georgian businessmen started to construct the rest five hotels: "Rums", "Radisson", "Crownplaza", two "Redix Group" hotels , including eight medium and small sized hotels and four-bedroom apartments.
The restoration of unique baths has already begun, cafes, restaurants and shopping areas are being built. The total investment of Abastumani has already reached GEL 1.5 billion. Georgian Government does its best not to fall behind on this private initiative and started to arrange roads, water and other infrastructure, rehabilitation of the observatory has also begun, and soon we will have a world-class center for astrophysical sciences. However, the state also needs a support and since I have all resources and desire to reduce its burden and build and equip medical and other public infrastructure in Abastumani, I am investing my own funds.
The most important thing is, that Tskaltubo has a great potential to become the health and tourism center of the region in the coming years and it will definitely become one.
I decided to buy all 22 hotels, 9 baths and fully rehabilitate them within the frame of united resort development plan and concept.
At the same time, I publicly create a proposal to Georgian business - I am ready, at any stage of project implementation, be it planning, designing, construction or putting it into operation, I will give these facilities to any investor, so that he can continue to make them operate successfully. Naturally, there will be no profit on my part, the maximum price will be the fixed price.
At the same time, I am ready to give these projects to the interested business at a discount, or even at a significant discount.
By doing so, on the one hand, I would like to encourage business to join the project at any time, and on the other hand, I want to give the government the incentive to develop the infrastructure guaranteed by investments,
The vision and concept of Tskaltubo development is based on a plan developed by leading Swiss consulting firm KohL & Partners, that also envisages arrangement of children’s playgrounds, Water Park, tropic garden, trade centers, cafes, restaurants, etc. At the same time, vocational educational center is planned to open and train our citizens in accordance to their specialties - several thousand jobs that will be created in Tskaltubo in the near future, will require qualified staff and we must provide them with training.
It is undoubted, that development of Tskaltubo will benefit not only Imereti region, but also Racha-Lechkhumi, Samegrelo, Zemo Svaneti, the completion of the new road in Racha will make it easier to plan routes in this direction. Our historical-cultural and tourist attractions are located around Tskaltubo: Gelati, Motsameta, Katskhi Column, Prometheus Cave, Sataplia, Okatse Canyon. I am sure that in line with our plan, tourism flows will be significantly increased in this area.
It is known to the public that for many years, the Cartu Foundation has been helping to restore the cultural heritage and rehabilitate tourist sites, although revitalizing the entire region needs a big push to be applied and accordingly Tskaltubo revival project will be a driver in the region.
In the vicinity of Tskaltubo, near Kutaisi there are two free economic zones, an airport, the construction of an agricultural hub is planned, which will also attract business and tourists. I believe, that along with the construction of Kutaisi as the University City, full rehabilitation-development of Tskaltubo will turn Imereti into a powerful international center for health, tourism, youth and education.
According to my plan, in the coming years, Tskaltubo may become the most important attraction in Eastern Europe and compete with other major players in Central Europe.
at least eight thousand people will be employed at the resort Tskaltubo as a result of rehabilitation of sanatoriums. we will have an opportunity to receive six hundred or eight hundred thousand tourists a year, not to mention the development of small businesses that will lead to the restoration of the resort.
Subsequently, the region will employ between 15,000 and 20,000 people, which will inevitably lead to the sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the entire Imereti region.
Ultimately, why did I have a desire and need to speak thoroughly in public about Tskaltubo development project? Firstly, I would like Georgian business to hear personally from me about my plans, besides I offer them an opportunity for cooperation. At the same time, I acknowledge, that strong opponents will appear, which unfortunately declare that white is black and vise versa, so I feel, that it is important to inform the public in a timely manner and I am sure, the informed society will come to the right conclusions. ”- Bidzina Ivanishvili said.