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Article posted: 10/20/2012 7:27 AM

In Georgia, where guest is God, tourism thrives

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A woman smokes at a cafe in Georgia's Black Sea resort of Batumi. The transformation of Batumi, an ancient city of 180,000 near the border with Turkey, is a vivid example of Georgiaís drive to capitalize on its tourism potential in a bid to boost the economy in this struggling ex-Soviet nation, where nearly 1/5 of the population lives in poverty, according to conservative estimates. The government has attracted top foreign investors, such as U.S. estate magnate Donald Trump, to build hotels and develop and renovate tourist sites and aggressively marketed Georgia as tourism hot spot abroad.

associated press/July 2012

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A man and a woman take a stroll with their child along the embankment in Georgia's Black Sea resort city of Batumi.

associated press/August 2012

The city center in Georgia's Black Sea resort of Batumi.

associated press/August 2012

About this Article

Georgia's Black Sea resort of Batumi was once a bleak site: Roads were dotted with potholes, the city was pitch dark at night, running water was scarce and the city's best hotel was infested with rats. Today Batumi glitters with neon lights and luxury high-rise hotels dot its skyline; soon the city will even boast a fountain flowing with Georgian grape vodka. The transformation of the ancient city is a vivid example of Georgia's drive to capitalize on its tourism potential, boosting the economy of thje ex-Soviet nation.
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    • A woman smokes at a cafe in Georgia’s Black Sea resort of Batumi. The transformation of Batumi, an ancient city of 180,000 near the border with Turkey, is a vivid example of Georgiaís drive to capitalize on its tourism potential in a bid to boost the economy in this struggling ex-Soviet nation, where nearly 1/5 of the population lives in poverty, according to conservative estimates. The government has attracted top foreign investors, such as U.S. estate magnate Donald Trump, to build hotels and develop and renovate tourist sites and aggressively marketed Georgia as tourism hot spot abroad.
    • A man and a woman take a stroll with their child along the embankment in Georgia’s Black Sea resort city of Batumi.
    • The city center in Georgia’s Black Sea resort of Batumi.
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