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Unique ecotourism space of Tsalka Canyon opens for visitors!
"I would like to express my gratitude to all, who participated and were engaged in the implementation of this unique project. Thanks to our investors, the Agency of Protected Areas, the local population, and everyone for adding another remarkable place to the list of our country's sights today.
Tsalka Canyon has attracted visitors with its natural beauty up to this time, however, I believe, that this excellent infrastructure will raise interest rates even more. I'm confident, that we will have many foreign and local visitors, which means more opportunities for the region, more local employment and more development.
One of the main priorities of our government is to take care of the environment, and nature. We are carrying out important reforms in the respective area.
The first protected area in Georgia and the Caucasus was established 110 years ago. It was a Lagodekhi reserve, which covered about 3,500 hectares during that time. Today, the area of protected areas in Georgia includes 800,000 hectares. This year we plan to create new protected areas, within which, the territory of protected areas will increase by 100,000 hectares.
We should underline the success achieved in 2022, with regard to protected areas. For the first time in the history of Georgia, four protected areas: Mtirala and Kolkheti National Parks, Kintrishi and Kobuleti Protected areas have been granted UNESCO World Natural Heritage status. This is another recognition of the uniqueness of our nature by the world community. We are obliged to protect nature and, at the same time, use its ecotourism potential.
We are actively cooperating with the donor organizations, they are providing support in the respective area, for which I would like to express my gratitude. A few days ago, with the support of the German Government, we launched a new project, under which we received a grant of Euros 24 million from the German Development Bank, which will be spent on the development of protected areas and ecotourism in the coming years.
"We are open to investors if nature protection and development of ecotourism infrastructure is promoted in the country," said Mr. Otar Shamugia, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
Within the public-private partnership project, for the first time in Georgia, a grand space was organized in the protected area of Tsalka Canyon. The unique 240-meter-long glass bridge was built on the canyon, entailing ecotourism trails, a visitor canter, a zip bike and a swing, which makes the trip even more special.
Hotels and other tourist infrastructure were built in the surrounding area. It should be mentioned, that the unique nature was preserved through the implementation of the respective project, on the one hand, and on the other hand, a unique infrastructure project was implemented in Georgia.
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 The investment in the Tsalka Canyon project amounted to GEL 120 000 000 in total, which hit a record high investment for the region, also facilities envisaged by the project are new and unique for Georgia.