GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Visegrad Group countries have been constantly increasing their tourist attractiveness for several years. The offer is becoming richer and more diversified. Tourism is an increasingly important sector within the V4 countries' GDP. Taking all this into account, we see two important issues to face (internal and external):

Internal: Although the tourism sector in V4 countries has become relatively advanced, the spread of innovation is not sufficient. Innovation is rather the domain of large companies, but nevertheless SMEs are hardly involved in this activity.

External: The Georgian tourism sector is young compared to the V4 countries. Its development is important for the development of the Georgian economy, but at the same time it can be an interesting business opportunity for V4 tourism companies, given that V4 societies are increasingly interested in visiting Georgia.

Georgia, which as an Eastern Partnership country shows great interest in deepening European integration. The V4 countries seem to be natural partners on this path, mainly because of their close political and cultural ties. Georgia is a developing country with high aspirations and its development plans can be strengthened by using the development paths used so far by the V4 countries.

The aim of the meeting is both to transfer experience of companies and institutions from V4 countries in the field of tourism and recreation development and to create a platform for cooperation between the countries of the region and Georgia, which is a new, undiscovered tourist destination of great tourist and cultural value. From the point of view of tourism there are common problems to solve and a joint effort is needed, especially in the border areas between Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic (mountains, transport, common ski resorts etc.).

SUMMARY

The main objective of the project was to establish closer cooperation between entities from the tourism industry.

Discussion on the role and importance of the tourism industry in the economy. And this goal was achieved by the organizer. During the event dedicated to companies, business environment institutions from the tourism industry, were organized with the participation of experts and people involved in the development of this industry. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange experiences and establish contacts.

Tourism is a catalyst for economic development, being the industry with the fastest growing and evolving in recent years because of the many amenities offered to travel around the world. Identifying ways to exploit the tourism potential Georgia and V4 coutries. Tourism is an area of national interest, as highlighted by the national and regional development plans, and by the

international trade strategies through small and medium players in the global industry. This led to the emergence of new forms of membership organizations, innovative clusters, promoting innovation, and increasing resource of economic sectors.

In the field of tourism can be established tourism clusters, associative forms as tour operators, travel agents / tour guides, local and national suppliers of tourism, leisure industry, transport companies, universities, training institutions and other relevant organizations working together but in competition, the principal aim being to achieve competitive advantages.

DAY 1
O5/03/2020

• The conference began with a welcoming the participants by Mr Krzysztof Krystowski, President of the Polish Clusters Association (Poland) and Natalie Kvachantiradze, Chairperson of Georgian Tourism Association (Georgia) on 5 March 2020 in Gudauri (venue: Hotel Marco Polo, Gudauri, 4702, Georgia).

• The topic of the 1 session was: THE ROLE OF CLUSTERS CAN PLAY IN THE MODERN TOURISM AND RECREATION AS A PART OF “EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY”.

The present and the future role of cluster organiza­tions in the field of tourism and recreation, being a part of the new innovative “Experience Industry” in the V4 countries and Georgia – models of activi­ties, sources of financing, directions of development.

Good and bad experiences, lessons learned by clusters and other NGO’s working in “Experience Industry”, operating in V4 countries. What are their successes and what are their problems? How do tourist clusters finance their development?

• The topic of the 2 session was: TOURISM, RECREATION, CULTURAL HERITAGE OF GEORGIA.

The share of innovation in the field is already sufficient is still rather insufficient, although it is growing rapidly.

What are the opportunities for V4 and Georgian companies to achieve financial support for their cooperation and innovations in the Experienced Economy based od the EU and other public funds?

Possible areas of cooperation with Georgian tourism companies, how to encourage companies from V4 countries to cooperate with Georgian companies, etc.

• The topic of the 3 session was: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIONAND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES – AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY.

Cultural attractiveness of regions, regional products, specific types of local cuisine, culinary tourism, wine, cheese etc.

Food industry and its contribution to building tourist attractiveness of regions (regional products).

Speakers and topice of presentations:

• Krzysztof Krystowski President of the Silesian Aviation Cluster, President of the Polish Cluster Employers Association, Member of the European Cluster Expert Group, European Commission (POLAND)

Presentation: Clusters and their role in the new economic sector “Experience Industry”

• Marek Turansky Executive Director of the Regional Development Cluster, Manager of the Association of Municipalities of Microregion 11 PLUS and Local Action Group in Trnava Region, lawyer and coordinator and consultant for preparation and implementation of EU projects, Managing Director of a company of GoSlovakia, (SLOVAKIA)

Presentation: Position and structure of clusters in Slovakia, development of cluster policy and real possibilities of clusters in the tourism sector in comparison with other subjects according to current legislation.

• Marek Turansky Managing Director of a company of GoSlovakia, Slovakia and Miroslav Solčány Executive Director of a company of GoSlovakia (SLOVAKIA)

Presentation: How it is practically possible to involve the presentation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the intelligent database using modern means of communication, internet, mobile application and the like.

• Jan Orava, National Cluster Association, Czech Republic, BizGarden, Director of Digital Innovation Hub Tourism 4.0 (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Presentation: Clusters and Digitalization in the Tourism

• Natalie Kvachantiradze Chairperson, Georgian Tourism Association (GEORGIA)

Presentation: Association activities and its role of the Tourism development in Georgia

• Givi Kochoradze European Commission H2020 NCP for ICT in Georgia, Director of the International Center for Advancement of Research, Technology&Innovation (ICARTI), Director of the Georgian Clusters National Platform (GCNP)(GEORGIA)

Presenation: The possibilities of EU Funds to Support Development of Tourism in European countries

• Nino Turashvili International Tourism Promotion Officeat Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA)(GEORGIA)

Presentation: General Overview of Tourism Potential and tendencies of Georgia

• Lela Potskhverashvili Head of International Relations and Analytical Departmentof the Georgian Mountain Resorts (GEORGIA)

Presentation: Mountain Resorts development in Georgia

• Antonio Novo Guerrero President of the European Clusters Alliance and of Clusters.es (Spanish Federation of Clusters)(SPAIN).

DAY 2
06/03/2020

9:30 – 18:00 STUDY VISIT FOR PARTICIPANTS MEETINGS WITH COMPANIES.

More informations: 

Over 40 representants from tourism industry took part in panels discussions.

During the conference (out of over 50  registered participants, list of registered participants – Annex No. 8 to the report ) attendance was about 40 people who are interested in clusters, tourism. The participants represented:

• clusters from V4 countries
• SMEs enterprises
• big enterprises
• local and national governments
• universities
• business environment institutions

The majority of participants who took part in the conference were Georgian tourism industry representatives. The greatest interest among the participants from Georgia was due to the fact that the event took place in this country. Initially, more people from the Visegrad Group countries were declared, however, due to the coronavirus situation, at the last moment several people resigned from participation. The event was attended by people from the tourism industry and interested in the issue of tourism clusters.

The event is under patronage: Polish-Georgian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

EVENT ORGANIZERS:

Polish Clusters Employers’ Association, Poland (Leader)

Georgian Tourism Association(GTA), Georgia

International Center for Advancement of Research, Technology and Innovation, Georgia

Hírös Supplier Cluster, Hungary

National Cluster Association, Czech Republic

Cluster of regional development, Slovakia

and Silesian Aviation Cluster, Poland

Strengths of the partnership The partners who were invited by the Project Leader to participate in the project have already had the opportunity to work together and know each other. The project partners actively participated in the process of preparing the application, the event and its programme and informed about the release. Comments and suggestions about the panels and the substantive inclusion of panel participants were important contributions to the project.  Being in constant contact with partners from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Georgia, Leader could for example promote our event by using their information channels, etc. Partners had already had contact with each other, hence exchanged information on a regular basis.