Integration of Minorities in Creative Tourism Value Chain

 

Implementation period: 2024-2025
Funded by: USAID Unity Through Diversity Program implemented by UNA Georgia
 

The 10-month project seeks to unlock the tourism potential of Georgian minorities based on local intangible heritage.
The project targets three municipalities of Mountainous Adjara region: Shuakhevi, Keda, Khulo. Actions's specific objectives are:

  1. Identification of the local resources for the development of creative tourism within the target municipalities.
  2. Building the capacity of the diverse local actors.
  3. Development of local creative tourism products and their introduction to the tourism market.

In addition to the main objectives, the project parallelly raises awareness and appreciation of the wider society of the cultural heritage of minorities, which is an important factor for their societal integration.
To achieve anticipated results the project uses a complex approach to the problem incorporating different types of measures aimed at the creation of successful examples and a positive environment for their replication. It incorporates three main groups of activities, which are:
GA1. Study of the local resources which will embrace SME and individual entrepreneurs active in accommodation, local ICH, gastronomy, folk music/dance, crafts etc. The inventory will also include local festivals and festive events that may be interesting from a tourism point of view.
GA2. Building the Capacity of local actors aims to develop the core competencies for successful integration in the Georgian tourism sector.
GA3. Product development and market access aiming at the creation of new CT offers by local communities, their presentation on physical and online platforms and establishment of B2B connections with industry representatives.