Abstracts - International Initiative for Georgian Cultural Studies

academic research and rural development, managing successfully information with tourism value in virtual
and in situ environments by applying communication policies with the public in recreational learning environments
and interpretive heritage presentation methods.
Recognising the necessity to investigate widespread shortcomings and factors of success for the valorisation
of local and regional heritage, HERODOT has created a knowledge network among partners to
deal with these shortcomings. Ten partners from Italy and Greece, representing academic institutions, local
authorities and various partners related to the tourism industry at regional level, share commonly developed
planning tools and resources. The network’s transnational character promotes cross-sectoral synergies in
the partners’ areas, influences regional policies, motivates entrepreneurial innovation, and disseminates
quality management practices in the Mediterranean area.
The network relies heavily on advanced know-how transfer and on further diffusion at regional and local
levels by each partner separately. Its dynamism exceeds the program’s financial framework, guaranteeing
long-term project viability and diffusion of best practices at multiple spatial and social levels. Common
development of specific tools and methodologies provide tourism-involved agents at regional/local level
with vocational skills in tourism planning, heritage management and interpretation. Experience exchange
(transnational workshops and in situ research in five different regions) will elaborate partner specific heritage
strategies and serve tourism by creating non-exchangeable destination images. Best practices deriving
from implemented projects will reflect the summative know-how acquired through the transnational co
operation. These will be further diffused at regional/local level serving as a guide to implementing quality
tourism products
Mine Kadiroğlu
Bulent Isler. Austria
Cultural Tourism in Tao-Klarjeti
The aim of the presented paper is to discuss possibilities to augment international interest in medieval
Georgian cultural heritage in northeastern Anatolia by means of cultural tourism in and around Tao-Klarjeti.
Currently the tourists visiting the monuments in Tao-Klarjeti are mostly Georgians with interest in medieval
Georgian architectural monuments. But leisurely tours, with a duration of ten days or longer, that include
sight-seeing trips to the religious monuments of Oşki, İşkhani, Tbeti, etc., can be organized for elderly
pilgrims, whereas “wander” tours within the picturesque landscape should be developed for the enthusiastic
younger generation of pilgrims with less time but more energy.
Another group of tourists are the Turkish businessmen, mostly of Georgian origin, who travel to the
Republic of Georgia for trade and for industrial purposes. This group includes prosperous and well-educated
Turkish citizens whose curiosity for Georgian cultural heritage must be awakened. Once businessmen, who
begin to enjoy the hospitality of the Georgians, the high quality of wine and food and the luxurious hotels,
get acquainted with the unique monuments within the wonderful scenery of the Caucasus, they surely
will do their best to support conservation attempts in Tao-Klarjeti. To facilitate this, short, (i.e. 5 or 6-day)
excursions, starting at the better-preserved monuments in Tao-Klarjeti, extending to the most impressive
monastic complex in Georgia and ending at a museums in Tbilis, should be organized.
Western and eastern tourists to Turkey, whose numbers seems to increase each year, need to be encouraged
to visit the Georgian monuments in Tao-Klarjet. “Wander” tours should be developed along the Caucasus,
starting either from Tao-Klarjeti or elsewhere in Georgia, and include some of the better-preserved medieval
Georgian monuments. Various excursions, arranged specifically to visit the medieval Georgian monuments,
will be indispensable to promoting Georgia’s invaluable cultural heritage across the world.
The presenters of this paper, while remaining doubtful about the positive effects of mass tourism,
especially at deserted sites with remnants, are aware of the advantages that world-wide fame could bring
to the medieval Georgian cultural heritage in Tao-Klarjeti. Therefore this paper includes measures, such as
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CULTURAL TOURISM