A HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF JEWISH SETLLEMENT IN GEORGIA (THE CAUCASUS)

The presence of the Jewish population in Georgia and its peaceful coexistence with the local people has more than two millennia history. More or less systemic sources about the spatial aspects of their presence in Georgia exist only from the second half of the 19th century. The paper discusses the historical geography of the Jewish population in the 19th-20th century with the emphasis on their settlement pattern in the 1920s using for that purpose a detailed Population Census carried out in 1926.

A HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF JEWISH SETLLEMENT IN GEORGIA (THE CAUCASUS)

The presence of the Jewish population in Georgia and its peaceful coexistence with the local people has more than two millennia history. More or less systemic sources about the spatial aspects of their presence in Georgia exist only from the second half of the 19th century. The paper discusses the historical geography of the Jewish population in the 19th-20th century with the emphasis on their settlement pattern in the 1920s using for that purpose a detailed Population Census carried out in 1926.

THE GEORGIAN RESORTS AS A BASIS FOR WELLNESS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Political, economic, social and ecological changes that have taken place in the world in recent decades have brought about the increase of population's demand for wellness tourism. At present, wellness tourism is the fastest growing and most significant segment of the world tourism industry, with double growth rate, compared with the growth rate of the tourism industry as a whole, each customer spending 53percent more than a typical international tourist. Though wellness tourism is a global phenomenon, its implementation is predominantly localized in the resorts with the appropriate natural conditions and infrastructure. Natural resources have been used in Georgia for health care and wellness since time immemorial. Based on the diversity of this country's natural conditions, 103 sites were given the legal status of resorts, and up 200 are defined as resort areas. Still, the awareness of Georgia's capacity in this aspect is low worldwide. Due to the crisis of the 1990-s and the civil war, part of the resorts were destroyed; another part is located in the occupied territories and to date is outside the Georgian government's jurisdiction. Though the industry's recovery began in the 2000-s, the pace of the health tourism's development lags behind that of other kinds of tourism. According to the infrastructure's present condition and developmental trends, four groups of resorts can be highlighted in Georgia. In the future, upgrading of the legal framework, further development of the resorts' infrastructure, targeted diversification of tourism products, more flexible, high-quality system of services, and improved resort management will create conditions for wellness tourism advancement in Georgia, which, in turn, will establish it in the world tourism industry.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TOURISM IN GEORGIA-AN OVERVIEW

Coronavirus has posed a great challenge to the whole world, including Georgia. The restrictions have taken a heavy toll on the tourism industry worldwide. It has been clear since the spring of the current year that the mass recovery of international tourism will not be possible by 2020. Consequently, the necessity has led to changes, especially in the direction of domestic tourism. Countries apply different strategies. This review article is based on the results of a mini-survey and data from the National Statistics Office. It is analyzed what impact COVID-19 had on local tourism in Georgia, what is the public mood, which places were visited, where did the epidemic break out after the restrictions were lifted, what are the statistics of international tourists in Georgia, etc. Besides, tourism support measures developed around the world are discussed.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TOURISM IN GEORGIA-AN OVERVIEW

Coronavirus has posed a great challenge to the whole world, including Georgia. The restrictions have taken a heavy toll on the tourism industry worldwide. It has been clear since the spring of the current year that the mass recovery of international tourism will not be possible by 2020. Consequently, the necessity has led to changes, especially in the direction of domestic tourism. Countries apply different strategies. This review article is based on the results of a mini-survey and data from the National Statistics Office. It is analyzed what impact COVID-19 had on local tourism in Georgia, what is the public mood, which places were visited, where did the epidemic break out after the restrictions were lifted, what are the statistics of international tourists in Georgia, etc. Besides, tourism support measures developed around the world are discussed.

THE NATURAL RESOURCES POTENTIAL AND PECULARITIES OF THEIR EXPLOITATION IN MOUTAINOUS REGIONS (THE CASE OF KVEMO RACHA, GEORGIA)

To reveal natural resources of a region it is causally necessary to reveal and describe certain landscapes as far as they are means of manifesting natural resources. Besides they are subject of study of land management. It is important to identify resource potential and current state of landscapes and each of their components. Landscapes occupy certain areas which are characterized with certain natural conditions and, obviously, different natural potential. To study the above issues, we selected mountainous region of Kvemo Racha (Ambrolauri Municipality of Georgia). For the studies, together with literary material and different sources, we used cartographic material, the landscape maps (1970, 1983) and the topographic map (scale; 1:50000) of Georgia and Transcaucasia and the observation materials of the field expedition made in 2019 in Kvemo Racha. We constructed a large-scale landscape map for Kvemo Racha (Ambrolauri Municipality) by GIS (geographic information system) technology. The work describes individual natural components of landscapes and resource potential of the distinguished landscapes. The data on mineral resources, climate and agro-climate, soil and forest resources are given in the table and diagrams. Among the landscapes distinguished as a result of comprehensive studies, the landscapes in the Racha Depression on the right and left banks of the river Rioni have especially great potential. These landscapes are located on either sides of the Rioni river gorge, though the landscape on the right bank of the river is especially distinguished. This is Racha Depression with a synclinal river gorge, river terraces, juts at some places, humus-carbonate soils. It is a specific micro-zone on the southern slope of the Lechkhumi Ridge (450-750 m above sea level), with unique vine species (Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli, Shavi (black) Kapistoni), which are used to produce naturally sweet and semisweet “Khvanchkara” type red wines known world-wide. The wealth of Racha – forest landscapes are also noteworthy as some of them have industrial, others have recreational and ecological resources and are of high significance for preserving the biodiversity in the region.

PROTECTED AREAS AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES – AN ESSENTIAL FACTOR FOR SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTURISM IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS

Development of ecotourism requires providing conditions for creating reserves, national parks and other protected areas, which are the main objects of ecotourism of nowadays in Georgia. At present the country counts 90 different statuses of protected areas. Preserving them in their natural form and using their potential for ecotourism is of high significance nowadays. There is a tight relation between tourism and environment. Unaffected nature provides adequate quality of life for local tourists, whereas for foreign travelers it is an incentive to visit Georgia to see the natural monuments of the country. The paper shows the significance of protected areas in the development of ecotourism in Georgia on the example of two mountainous regions – Guria and Racha. The work considers a scientifically corroborated hypothesis that there is a great potential of transforming the first newly formed protected area in Guria – Pontine Oak Reserve and the high quality landscapes (mixed and dark-coniferous forests and sub-alpine meadows) on the territory of adjacent (4 km distance) resort Bakhmaro and its vicinities into national park in the future. The work shows that against the background of planned protected areas, there is a resource potential in Racha, which will enable to create a category of protected areas in the near future in the region. It, in its turn, will provide improvement of social-economic conditions of the region. For the fulfillment of the work we used the material of field expeditions and observations carried out in 2009-2016 in resort Bakhmaro and its vicinities and in 2019 in Racha.

ECONOMIC POLICY OF GEORGIA IN THE FACE OF CHALENGES RELATED TO GLOBAL PANDEMIC

Issue of pandemic crisis is actual nowadays, it is under attention of international and national scientists and is well reviewed in different types of literature. During the Covid -19 the attention of the Georgian government fully focused on the problem of health of Georgian people, while the economy of the country was partially paralyzed. Information included in the research strategy of the article were collected from multiple sources: documentary evidence, scientific literature analysis and statistical analysis. The scientific aim of the research is to highlight the current Georgian economic challenges related to pandemic. The authors had an objective to investigate social-economic outcomes in Georgia during the pandemic, to explore the major determinant of country’s economic development such as unemployment, foreign direct investment (FDI), gross domestic product (GDP) exports and imports, remittances, service sector. This paper examines the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the current important social-economic processes of the country, to generalize them in order to form proper opinions. Findings based on research suggest that the economic situation in Georgia is difficult, therefore all the parties that could influence the positive changes in economy should be informed and involved in every project planned by the local government and international organizations that provide opportunities to foster the process of regional economic development. Authors also provides recommendations how to increase the competitiveness of the country in the future. Pandemic for Georgia is not only a crisis, but also an opportunity to build a new economy, but it is clear that the world will never be the same as it was before Covid-19.