The President of Georgia visited Samtskhe-Javakheti today. He toured the rehabilitation works that have been going on for a year. Mikheil Saakashvili expressed interest in the details of the project and received information from local authorities as well as the architects. The Head of State also spoke with the people employed at the rehabilitation works.

“This will be the main tourist center of Georgia. Mtskheta is extraordinary, Mestia is a miracle and we have many great places, but this historic town is out of the competition; it will peak the most interest of tourists. A few places in Europe may compete with this town: Dubrovnik, and one or two places in Italy and Spain. We cannot even grasp what kind of significance this tourist miracle will have despite the fact that it is not a sea resort. All of the roads are leading to Akhaltsikhe. It is possible to come here from Adjara, Armenia, Turkey and Kutaisi and this place is basically becoming a center. Traditionally, the poorest people lived in this region and it is true today too. The rehabilitation that is going on here is exactly the way of overcoming this problem. It may take 7-10 years, but there were no prospects in the past. We always thought about what would happen to Akhaltsikhe and how it could be helped and this is exactly the way” – stated Mikheil Saakashvili and added that the increasing number of tourists will also help revive the agriculture business, because it will be necessary to harvest 3-4 times more agricultural products in the future.

The historic district “Akhali Tsikhe,” which is a symbol of tolerance, will be restored to its original appearance within the scope of the rehabilitation works. The restoration of monuments with historic meaning has also begun, as well as old bathrooms, a mosque, the Jakeli Palace and a citadel. There will be a new hotel, marriage bureau, the Love Alley, water cascades, swimming pools, amphitheatre, and observatory it the Rabat territory.

700 specialists are employed at the restoration works, including the people invited from other regions of Georgia.

Aside from this, there will soon be a Public Service Hall with the original architecture in Akhaltsikhe; the road will be widened, a meat reproduction facility built, and the construction of a mechanization center is going to be completed soon.