The Namche Conference: May 24-26, 2003 People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism Participants and Presentations: Ivan Guram Vashakmadze

Ivan Guram Vashakmadze (Tbilisi, Georgia) Director, Sustainable Tourism Center, Tbilisi, Georgia. AbstractEco-tourism Development in the Caucasus Mountains I would like to present recent conditions, SWOT and perspectives on eco-tourism (sustainable Tourism) development in Caucasus mountains. Case-stadies from my presentation will include: First steps on operation: planning of eco-tourism trails and management in first Caucasus national park - Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, established with support by WWF and German government. Mt. Kazbegi community tourism center. Operation of Mt. Kazbegi mountaining trail, for benefit of local community and environment conservation.Supported by SDC Caucasus. (on-going micro project). linking from biodiversity conservation to tourism industry. experience from new CIS (developing) countries. More: details, photos, maps and video materials could be provided.

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