TOURIST BUSINESS SHOULD BE DEFINITELY DEVELOPED AT THE LEVEL OF THE REGION TOO

Developing tourism and its infrastructure in the regions of the appropriate potential is the main supporting factor for regional development in Georgia.Together with the state it is important to involve scientific institutions in working out activities that support tourist business. In Imereti region together with the state structures educational institutions began an active participation in developing activities supporting tourism development.A clear example is that Kutaisi University made a tourist market research in the frames of grant inside the university and worked out a recommendation for the Kutaisi government. From February 2015 to August 1012 foreign tourists filled the questionnaire. In order to make tourists stay longer and spend more in the region it is important to identify new tourist destinations and their popularisation, arrange international activities and festivals, improve the service and etc. While visiting Kutaisi the main tourist activities are the following: to see the nature, to taste national cuisine and to visit historical sights in the city and its surroundings. A tourist spends on average 150 -200 laris during the stay in Kutaisi mainly on accommodation and food. Due to the research results a recommendation was worked out and offered to the Kutaisi government.