PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INNOVATIVE POTENTIAL OF TOURISM IN GEORGIA

Abstract

Tourism development began with an accelerated rate in Georgia, which is one of the priority spheres and a source of growing income. In recent years, new types of tourism development began in Georgia, because the country had appropriate geographical-natural-historical-cultural traditions. There are more than 1,200 monuments of material culture here, which gives us the opportunity for tourism to reach a high level of development and bring economic profit, other innovative types of tourism are also developing. Namely: gastronomic or culinary tourism. It is a completely new species in Georgia and people who will go anywhere to expand their gastronomic interests are interested in it. Agrotourism is also important - one of the important sectors of tourism industry. It creates a tourism product in rural areas, using by natural, cultural-historical and other resources. There is also ecotourism, which is a relationship with wild nature. This type of tourism encourages preservation of nature, it is a mitigation mechanism to increase the economic income of the population of protected areas and regions. About 15-20% of international tourism belongs to ecotourism. Protection of ecotourism and natural diversity should be one of the most important activities of the country. Ecotourism has four main keystones: sustainability of development, economic benefits for the local population, integration of local culture, educational component.