7-8 December 2019, Khulo – Training in ecotourism and agritourism has been conducted in Khulo municipality. Training was attended by LAG members, guesthouse operators and interested stakeholders in eco and agritourism management and development. In total, 20 participants attended to the training. Main aim of the training was: general standards and requirements of formation of Agri-farming touristic objects in Khulo municipality. The training was conducted by Nata Robitashvili, educational projects manager of ‘’Georgian Ecotourism Association’’.

Training has been conducted in very active regime. Participants shared practical experience and described local context in case of agritourism. Mainly discussion was about potential fields of agritourism in Khulo municipality. Trainer provides theoretical justification in every practical case shared during the training. Several issues were reviewed in detail during the training: (1) Main principles of Agritourism development, (2) Common standards and safety norms of agritourism farming, (3) Planning and development of main and additional services in agritourism farming, (4) Branding and packaging of agritourism farming products, (5) Marketing and (6) Sales. Participants determined potential of agritourism development and created the concept for main and additional services.

‘’Knowledge gained during the training will be useful for my agritourism farming service development. This will help me to receive more people in my guesthouse and diversify my services’’ – noted, Zebur Iakobadze, winner of the first round of ENPARD Khulo grant competition. 

“Upper Ajara has big potential for agritourism farming development. Additional training/meeting has to be conducted in this field, because present informational level should be increased, and main and additional services have to be created among guesthouse owners in Khulo municipality’’ – said trainer Nata Robitashvili.

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural population that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge.