What does Kolkheti National Park need in order to become one of Georgia’s leading ecotourism destinations? Searching for answers to this question became especially important at the Tourister Summit 2025 held in Batumi. The summit brought together international and local tourism professionals, companies operating in the technology sector, and tour operators in one space. Their involvement will determine the place that Kolkheti National Park will occupy on the future map of Georgia’s tourism sector.
At the Tourister Summit, the Local Economic Development Project (LEDP), together with its partners, presented Kolkheti National Park as a new and emerging destination where natural richness, local experiences, and economic opportunities complement one another. The discussion highlighted the park not only as a protected area but also as a resource development of which can generate real economic benefits for the 33 villages surrounding the park.
Challenges and Opportunities
Although Kolkheti National Park is recognized under international conventions, its tourism potential is still only partially utilized. Several factors contribute to this: limited coordination among the six municipalities bordering the park, a lack of sufficient services, the need for improved infrastructure, and the fact that information available to tourists is often fragmented.
The Tourister Summit clearly demonstrated the steps needed to better unlock this potential. Tour operators emphasized that they require accurate information about existing routes, service standards, and safety conditions. For visitors, the most attractive experiences include water-based activities (kayaking, rafting, boat tours), birdwatching, short hiking trails, educational tours and direct interaction with local communities. These types of experiences represent the main direction of nature-based tourism today and they are exactly what Kolkheti naturally offers to its visitors.
Strengthening Collaboration and the Role of LEDP
Since 2024, the municipalities bordering the park have been jointly working on new hiking, cycling, and water routes. This process is supported by LEDP. Emerging of new trails and entrances will improve access to the park, develop additional services for tourists, and create economic opportunities for local residents.
The goal of LEDP is to further strengthen this collaboration. The project supports the development of ecotourism in Kolkheti National Park and the surrounding villages through intermunicipal cooperation and private sector development. The project supports initiatives related to Kolkheti National Park in close coordination with the Agency of Protected Areas, ensuring that every step of planning and collaboration fully aligns with the principles of conservation and the sustainable use of the park’s resources. Moreover, LEDP promotes public-private cooperation, assesses tourism and ecosystem potential, identifies infrastructural needs, and encourages the development of eco-friendly services in and around the park.
Visual framework of this collaboration is the interactive Eco-Kolkheti map created by LEDP – www.ecokolkheti.ge. The map displays the routes that are gradually being developed and will help visitors better explore the park in the future. It represents a shared vision of Kolkheti’s current state and its development directions.
The project is implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and WINS Global Consult, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
