{"id":35703,"date":"2025-12-19T12:25:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/?post_type=articles&p=35703"},"modified":"2025-12-19T12:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:26:10","slug":"opportunities-for-tourism-development-in-the-mountainous-regions-of-georgia-prospects-for-climate-smart-technologies","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/en\/articles\/opportunities-for-tourism-development-in-the-mountainous-regions-of-georgia-prospects-for-climate-smart-technologies\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunities for Tourism Development in the Mountainous Regions of Georgia \u2013 Prospects for Climate-Smart Technologies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Koba Arabuli<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doctor of Economics, Adjunct Professor, Georgian National University (SEU)<\/p>\n

k.arabuli@seu.edu.ge<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Malkhaz Ghvinjilia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Head of the Tourism Program, Georgian National University (SEU)<\/p>\n

m.ghvinjilia@seu.edu.ge<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Georgia\u2019s mountainous regions\u2014such as Svaneti, Racha, Khevsureti, and Tusheti\u2014possess exceptional natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage, offering high potential for sustainable tourism development. However, these areas are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, necessitating long-term, climate-resilient strategies.<\/p>\n

Climate-smart technologies present a viable approach that integrates tourism development with environmental sustainability and community well-being. Key measures include the use of renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass), construction of energy-efficient and climate-adapted facilities, improved water management systems, and the promotion of eco- and agrotourism. These interventions support resource conservation, biodiversity protection, and economic diversification.<\/p>\n

Smart transport and digital infrastructure\u2014such as electric vehicle charging stations and online marketing platforms\u2014further reduce environmental impact and improve access. Implementing climate-smart practices can extend the tourist season, reduce youth outmigration through job creation, and enhance Georgia\u2019s reputation as a green destination.<\/p>\n

Despite promising prospects, challenges such as limited funding, low awareness, inadequate infrastructure, and geographic barriers hinder widespread adoption. Addressing these requires coordinated action from the government, private sector, and international partners through regional planning, investment incentives, and knowledge exchange.<\/p>\n

In sum, climate-smart tourism offers a strategic pathway for sustainable economic development in Georgia\u2019s mountain regions, balancing environmental preservation with community empowerment.<\/p>\n

Keywords<\/strong>: mountain, tourism, climate-smart, sustainable, strategy<\/p>\n

JEL<\/strong>: Q56; L83; Q54<\/p>\n

DOI: <\/strong>10.52244\/c2025.28<\/p>\n

The article is in Georgian.<\/strong><\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Academic articles: Garc\u00eda, J. et al. (2019). Tourism Impacts on the Sierra Nevada Mountain Ecosystem<\/em><\/p>\n

Asian Development Bank (2020). Sustainable Tourism Development in the Himalayas<\/em><\/p>\n

Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism<\/p>\n

B\u00e4tzing W.\u00a0 The Alps: Human Geography<\/em>; research articles on vocational education (apprenticeship models) in Austria. (2015).<\/p>\n

Georgian National Tourism Administration – Georgian Tourism Strategy. 2025<\/p>\n

Georgian National Tourism Administration – Inbound Tourism Business Planning – Handbook, Fourth Edition, 2015<\/p>\n

Georgian National Tourism Administration – Tourism Development Prospects in Georgia and Strategic Goals. www.gnta.ge<\/a> . 2018<\/p>\n

Georgian National Tourism Administration Report. www.gnta.ge<\/a> . 2023<\/p>\n

Georgian Tourism Statistical Review, 2024, Tbilisi<\/p>\n

Georgian Tourism Statistical Review. www.saqastat.ge<\/a>\u00a0 2019<\/p>\n

IUCN \u2013 protected area management guidelines.<\/p>\n

National Agency for Protected Areas www.apa.gov.geUNWTO, Mountain Tourism and Risk Management<\/em>, 2020<\/p>\n

OECD (2022). Sustainable Mountain Tourism<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Spain Tourism: https:\/\/www.spain.info\/en\/experience\/mountain-towns<\/a><\/p>\n

Swiss Federal Office for the Environment: https:\/\/www.bafu.admin.ch<\/a><\/p>\n

Swiss Tourism: https:\/\/www.myswitzerland.com<\/a><\/p>\n

UNEP. Climate Smart Tourism Guidelines<\/em>.<\/p>\n

UNWTO (2021). Sustainable Mountain Tourism Report <\/em>https:\/\/www.untourism.int\/mountain-tourism<\/a><\/p>\n

UNWTO, Climate Change and Mountain Tourism<\/em>, 2020<\/p>\n

World Bank, Climate-Smart Tourism in Mountain Regions<\/em>, 2021<\/p>\n

World Bank, From the Alps to the Pamirs: Investing in mountain economies to make people and places more resilient<\/em>, 2021 https:\/\/blogs.worldbank.org\/en\/europeandcentralasia\/investing-in-mountain-economies-to-make-people-and-places-more-resilient<\/a><\/p>\n

World Bank, Geopolitical Risks in Mountain Regions<\/em>, 2021<\/p>\n

World Bank, Sustainable Mountain Tourism<\/em>, 2020<\/p>\n

Zeng L, Man R.Y. San J..\u00a0 Economic Development and Mountain Tourism Research from 2010 to 2020: Bibliometric Analysis and Science Mapping Approach. 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"gonisdziebebi":[103],"class_list":["post-35703","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","gonisdziebebi-2025-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/35703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"gonisdziebebi","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cue.edu.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gonisdziebebi?post=35703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}