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Resources and Threats of the Eco-Tourism Development in Georgia

Received: 11 March 2015     Accepted: 11 March 2015     Published: 25 June 2015
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Abstract

Ecological tourism can play a certain role in solving the problems of environment protection and sustainable and safe development of the country. The article considers some specific problems of the eco-tourism development in Georgia. The results of the study of the tourism potential in the regions in 2009-2014 revealed that: Georgia has substantial means to develop eco-tourism. This is true not only for the protected areas, but also for individual natural and geographical areas of the different regions (historical areas) of the country. The distinctive feature of the country’s eco-tourism potential is particularly diversified relief forms and natural eco-systems, in particular, intense variation of the landscapes and great contrasts between them (seaside and mountain, humid subtropical and arid zone, river gorges and steppe landscapes alternate over small areas), widely distributed endemic biological species, and traditional ethnographic, farming and domestic cultural forms survived in the historical regions (mostly in the mountains) of the country. The principal eco-tourism value is the natural eco-systems being only insignificantly modified due to industrial changes and maintaining their “natural originality”. In addition, numerous remnants of historical and cultural heritage give them a certain value. They naturally merge with the environment and not dominate over it, but add to its beauty. The threats to the environment are mostly associated with an increasing anthropogenic “aggression”, destruction of the traditional mode of nature management meaning certain degree of responsibility and deficient environmental laws and mechanisms of their execution. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that due to the limited territories, the eco-systems of the country are particularly sensitive to technogenic pressure. Concrete eco-tourism projects must inevitably envisage preliminary geo-ecological works.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 4, Issue 3-1)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Ecology: Problems, Innovations

DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38
Page(s) 180-185
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Eco-Tourism, Resources, Threats, Visitors, Georgia

References
[1] N.Beruchashvili. Landscape Map of Caucasus. Tbilisi, Scale 1:1,000,000.
[2] N.Beruchashvili.Diversity of Georgia’s Landscapes and Geographical Analysis of Landscapes Diversity of the World. Proc. of the First National Conference: Biological and Landscape Diversity of Georgia. Tbilisi, 2000, 221-250
[3] Nikolaishvili D., Matchavariani L., Demetrashvili O. Methodology of Determining the Agri-tourism Potential on Georgia’s Example. Journal of Tourism Challenges and Trends - Rural Tourism, vol. IV, No 1, 2011, 59-76
[4] Nikolaishvili D., Donadze T., Meladze G., Trapaidze V., Dvalashvili G., Sharashenidze M., Tigishvili T. Evaluating the Touristic Potential of Georgia’s Landscapes. Forum geographic. Vol. XI. Issue 2 (12-12-20112), 2013, 145-154.
[5] Protected Areas of Georgia. Tsignis saxelosno, Tbilisi, 2007, 5.
[6] Assessment of Ecotourism Potential in Georgia. IUCN, Tbilisi, 2008.http://www.greengeorgia.ge/sites/default/files/Ecotourism %20Assessment%20in%20Georgia.pdf
[7] G.Khomeriki, D.Maisuradze, K.Tsikarishvili, T.Khucishvili. Carst Caves of Georgia as the Significant Tourist Resource. Geography of Georgia, TSU, N 6, Tbilisi, 2007, pp. 69 -78.
[8] http://www.police.ge/ge/useful-information/statistics/sazghvris- kvetis-statistika
[9] M. Gongadze, G. Lominadze, G. Khomeriki. Karst of the Racha Range and its Touristic and Recreational Potential. Collected papers of Institute of Geography of Georgia. New series, N 6 (85). Tbilisi, 2014. 53-57.
[10] G. Khomeriki, V. Neidze, M. Tutberidze, M. Gongadze, G.Lominadze, N.Chikhradze. Tourist-Recreational Potential of Kvemo Kartli (Geographical Analyses. Collected papers of Institute of Geography of Georgia. New series, #N4 (83). Tbilisi, 2012, 237-246.
[11] V. Neidze, M. Tutberidze, G. Khomeriki. Tourism in Djavakheti: Development Factors. Collected papers of Institute of Geography of Georgia. New series, N5 (84). Tbilisi, 2013. 240-245.
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  • APA Style

    Giorgi Khomeriki, Giorgi Meladze. (2015). Resources and Threats of the Eco-Tourism Development in Georgia. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 4(3-1), 180-185. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38

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    ACS Style

    Giorgi Khomeriki; Giorgi Meladze. Resources and Threats of the Eco-Tourism Development in Georgia. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2015, 4(3-1), 180-185. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38

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    AMA Style

    Giorgi Khomeriki, Giorgi Meladze. Resources and Threats of the Eco-Tourism Development in Georgia. Am J Environ Prot. 2015;4(3-1):180-185. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38,
      author = {Giorgi Khomeriki and Giorgi Meladze},
      title = {Resources and Threats of the Eco-Tourism Development in Georgia},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3-1},
      pages = {180-185},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.38},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.s.2015040301.38},
      abstract = {Ecological tourism can play a certain role in solving the problems of environment protection and sustainable and safe development of the country. The article considers some specific problems of the eco-tourism development in Georgia. The results of the study of the tourism potential in the regions in 2009-2014 revealed that: Georgia has substantial means to develop eco-tourism. This is true not only for the protected areas, but also for individual natural and geographical areas of the different regions (historical areas) of the country. The distinctive feature of the country’s eco-tourism potential is particularly diversified relief forms and natural eco-systems, in particular, intense variation of the landscapes and great contrasts between them (seaside and mountain, humid subtropical and arid zone, river gorges and steppe landscapes alternate over small areas), widely distributed endemic biological species, and traditional ethnographic, farming and domestic cultural forms survived in the historical regions (mostly in the mountains) of the country. The principal eco-tourism value is the natural eco-systems being only insignificantly modified due to industrial changes and maintaining their “natural originality”. In addition, numerous remnants of historical and cultural heritage give them a certain value. They naturally merge with the environment and not dominate over it, but add to its beauty. The threats to the environment are mostly associated with an increasing anthropogenic “aggression”, destruction of the traditional mode of nature management meaning certain degree of responsibility and deficient environmental laws and mechanisms of their execution. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that due to the limited territories, the eco-systems of the country are particularly sensitive to technogenic pressure. Concrete eco-tourism projects must inevitably envisage preliminary geo-ecological works.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AB  - Ecological tourism can play a certain role in solving the problems of environment protection and sustainable and safe development of the country. The article considers some specific problems of the eco-tourism development in Georgia. The results of the study of the tourism potential in the regions in 2009-2014 revealed that: Georgia has substantial means to develop eco-tourism. This is true not only for the protected areas, but also for individual natural and geographical areas of the different regions (historical areas) of the country. The distinctive feature of the country’s eco-tourism potential is particularly diversified relief forms and natural eco-systems, in particular, intense variation of the landscapes and great contrasts between them (seaside and mountain, humid subtropical and arid zone, river gorges and steppe landscapes alternate over small areas), widely distributed endemic biological species, and traditional ethnographic, farming and domestic cultural forms survived in the historical regions (mostly in the mountains) of the country. The principal eco-tourism value is the natural eco-systems being only insignificantly modified due to industrial changes and maintaining their “natural originality”. In addition, numerous remnants of historical and cultural heritage give them a certain value. They naturally merge with the environment and not dominate over it, but add to its beauty. The threats to the environment are mostly associated with an increasing anthropogenic “aggression”, destruction of the traditional mode of nature management meaning certain degree of responsibility and deficient environmental laws and mechanisms of their execution. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that due to the limited territories, the eco-systems of the country are particularly sensitive to technogenic pressure. Concrete eco-tourism projects must inevitably envisage preliminary geo-ecological works.
    VL  - 4
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Author Information
  • Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography at Iv.Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

  • Dep. of Geography, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

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