Today the President of Georgia visited Promete cave, which is 1.6km below the earth surface. The President of Georgia was met by the residents in the yard of Promete cave. In his speech Mikheil Saakashvili focused on the rehabilitation of Imereti, in particular, of Kutaisi and Tskaltubo. He also talked about the objects that will be opened in Tskaltubo in the nearest future.
"Moving the Parliament is already noticeable for Kutaisi. Everything around here is so revitalized. Hotels opened in Tskaltubo, shops and restaurants are being made, new constructions are being developed in all directions, including the road construction. When people say that there is no space for parliament in Kutaisi, they should take into consideration that, in fact, the whole Georgia comes from Kutaisi. In the 19th-20th centuries most of the intelligentsia lived in Kutaisi. There were engineers, intellectual and musical elite. Great potential is here even today as the generation of unimaginably talented youth is born and old traditions will be revived. Together with moving the parliament the whole West Georgia is enlivened. Reviving is felt all around and besides, Tbilisi will be less overburdened, which is so important for the capital. If there was not the parliament, Tskaltubo would not have a chance to revive. I am surprised by such significant process. In two years period Tskaltubo will be a real miracle." - The President stated.
In the surrounding territory of Promete cave Saakashvili visited a stalagmite shaped restaurant, which is the integral part of the touristic complex. The President mentioned that the plethora of such kind of objects will promote the development of tourism infrastructure. Mikheil Saakashvili cut the stalagmite and stalactite shaped cake created according to composition of the cave, which the restaurant owners baked for celebrating the day.
"Up to now we had two caves in Georgia. It was Sataplia which we made recently and New Athon that was taken into possession of insane people in the form of occupants. Nowadays the best cave that was made so far is Promete cave. Very interesting places are above Tskaltubo , in Martvili and Khoni, but the main thing is that Promete cave is already made. Although I have not discovered the place, I was very interested in doing it before these few years and we fulfilled our intention." - He claimed.
In the framework of Promete touristic route today the President also visited modern four-star hotel that is surrounded by the 16 hectare-length forest park. Tskaltubo Spa Resort is envisaged for 59 guests and is provided for the tourists visiting Tskaltubo and in particular, Promete cave. Before this Military sanatorium was in the building.
"Recently I was in Marrakesh that is deemed as a wonderful international resort. But the things that surprised me most were the relief, greenery and the climate, by which it looks like Tskaltubo. However, I have to say that for greenery Tskaltubo is better and also, unlike Marrakesh there are mineral waters with great history and significance, curing mud and baths. Shortly, Tskaltubo is better than Marrakesh. We have such treasure that was unused for so many years. This is the first hotel that was built here, but the huge hotel is planned to be made next year. This building was specially constructed for Stalin by an Italian architecture. Such a tremendous thing had not been built in the Soviet Union outside Moscow. The building will be remade into great hotel and this sanatorium will be also enlarged.
I gave the task to the state representative-governor to invite gardeners and the specialists of greenery from Europe. There are conditions for it. In brief, new huge international resort will be born in Georgia. Meanwhile, the first hotel will be opened in Sairme this year, where great works are being finished. Similar projects are under way in the Eastern Georgia. In Rejini, in the district of Gurjaani amazing new resort of mineral waters is being made. Tourism infrastructure is being developed in several places of Kakheti. We have also very serious plans for Borjomi development. Briefly, Georgia returns to its natural state and what is of utmost importance, this will provide the chances for the residents to get employed. The core problem here was unemployment, but so many working places will be in the nearest future that the main problem for us will be the lack of specialists. This is very important. That is why today we announce the beginning of the first stage of Tskaltubo reconstruction, the end of which will be in the following year. All of you will be surprised by this interesting place." - Mikheil Saakashvili stated.