Informazioni Generali

Accommodation

ACCOMMODATION: Under the former Soviet Government, hotels in Georgia were mainly state-owned. Much has changed recently, with many hotels now privatised and standards of tourist facilities far higher than in previous years. Tbilisi has luxury hotels with correspondingly high prices, one of which also houses the British Embassy. There are also a number of good hotels in Batumi and Kutaisi. Some of the large public hotels now provide temporary accommodation for refugees from Abkhazia and do not serve tourists. Most of the accommodation facilities currently available in Georgia are bed & breakfast-type smaller hotels and guest houses typically serving 8 to 16 guests, often with shared bathroom facilities. In rural areas, visitors can stay as guests in private houses.

Business Profile

Economy: Georgia has experienced considerable economic difficulties during the last decade and is one of the poorest of the former Soviet republics with an annual per capita income of US$600. Disruption of the centrally organised Soviet trade and supply networks, plus civil war and political instability produced hyper-inflation and a slump in production. Major structural reforms, centring on the transfer of almost all small-scale enterprises to private ownership and a parallel reduction in the economic role of the state, were instituted. The measures have since contributed to strong annual growth for most of the post-Soviet period (it is currently 5 per cent) and a manageable rate of inflation. Unemployment, however, remains high, as does widespread poverty. A new national currency, the Lari, was introduced in 1995. The agricultural sector, which accounts for about one-third of total output, produces fruit, tobacco, grain and sugar beet; sheep and goats are widely farmed. There is some heavy industry, notably shipbuilding, but most of Georgia’s industry is light and engaged in food processing and production of fertiliser. Coal and manganese are mined in commercial quantities. The Government aims to establish the main ports of Poti and Batumi as regional transport and re-export hubs, which will also be able to handle oil refining and transhipment. (Part of this plan involves the laying of a set of pipelines running east-west across the entire country, linking the oil and gas fields of central Asia to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.) Further reforms, including the privatisation of major industries such as energy, are planned but the government has so far moved cautiously. In 1992, Georgia joined the IMF, which has been centrally involved in the economic reform programme, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as a ‘Country of Operation’. It has also acquired membership of the World Trade Organisation. Turkey is now Georgia’

CLIMA

Qui c'è una media di 4.000 mm/anno di pioggia che cala a circa 1.800 mm/anno spostandosi a nord in direzione Poti. Le precipitazioni sono distribuite abbastanza bene durante l'anno. Il paesaggio è lussureggiante, si coltivano agrumi e the. Inverni abbastanza miti con nevicate rare. Estati caldo-umide. Il resto della Georgia è praticamente collinare-montagnoso, con un clima temperato molto simile a quello del Nord Italia, ma meno umido. Assenza di nebbia ed estati meno afose.

Climate

Climate: Hot summers with mild winters, particularly in the southwest. Low temperatures are common in alpine areas. Heaviest rainfall exists in the subtropical southwest.

Duty Free

Note: On entering the country, tourists are advised to complete a customs declaration form, which they should retain until departure. This allows for the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables (such as jewellery, cameras, computers, etc) which must be registered on the declaration form. Customs inspections are detailed. Prohibited imports: Military weapons and ammunition, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, pornography, loose pearls and anything owned by a third party that is to be carried in for that third party. Prohibited exports: Works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture). In this case, the passenger should also hold a photo of the work of art or antique.

FESTIVITA' NAZIONALI

FUSO ed ALTRE NOTIZIE

General information

Area: 69,700 sq km (26,911 sq miles). Population: 5,262,000 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 75.5 per sq km. Capital: Tbilisi. Population: 1,253,100 (official estimate 1994). GEOGRAPHY: Georgia is a mountainous country bordered by the Russian Federation in the north, Turkey in the southeast, Armenia in the south, Azerbaijan in the east and by the Black Sea in the west, which forms a 330km- (206 mile-) long coastline. It includes the two autonomous republics Abkhazia and Ajaria. The state is crossed by the ranges of the Greater Caucasus (highest peak: Mt Kazbek, 5047m/16,554ft). Enclosed high valleys, wide basins, health spas with famous mineral waters, caves and waterfalls combine in this land of varied landscapes and striking beauty. Government: Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State and Government: President Michael Saakashvili since 2004. Language: The official language is Georgian, the only language in the Ibera Caucasian family written in ancient script, with its own unique alphabet. Russian, Ossetian and Abkhazian are also spoken. Religion: Christian majority, mainly Georgian Orthodox church. Also Eastern Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and other Christian denomination minorities. Time: GMT + 4. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European-type, two-pin plugs are used. The supply of electricity can be intermittent between November and March, and visitors are advised to bring a torch with them. Communications: Telephone: IDD is, in theory, available. Country code: 995. Some outgoing calls from Georgia, except to other parts of the CIS, must be made through the operator and long waits can occur. It is possible for visitors to set up an account with the local telecom company that enables them to make direct long-distance calls without the operator’s assistance. Many businesspeople and journalists now use satellite links to overcome the considerable problems of ordinary telephone c

GEOGRAFIA

Health

Health: Special Precautions Certificate Required? Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 1 N/A Malaria 2 N/A 1: Immunisation against poliomyelitis and typhoid is sometimes recommended. 2: Malaria risk in the benign vivax form exists from July to October in some villages in the southeastern part of the country. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being a potential health risk. Boiled water is readily available and should be used. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Hepatitis A occurs. Immunisation against hepatitis B should be considered. Outbreaks of diphtheria and anthrax have been reported. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Travellers staying for more than 1 month must present a medical certificate proving they are HIV-negative. If not holding the required documentation, they will be subject to a compulsory AIDS test on arrival. Health care: The health service provides free medical treatment for all citizens in principle. A reciprocal health agreement for urgent medical treatment exists with the UK. In order to obtain treatment, some proof of UK residence will be required. Small sums may have to be paid for medicines and hospital treatment. If a longer stay than originally planned becomes necessary because of the illness, the visitor has to pay for all further treatment. Owing to the present state of medical services, emergency evacuation travel insurance is recommended for all travellers. It is also advisable to take a supply of those medicines that are likely to be required (but check first that they may be legally imported) as medicines can prove very

History and Government

History: Throughout the centuries Georgia has been a victim of the aggression of powerful neighbours. The nation’s history has been a constant struggle for survival, interspersed with brief interludes of peace. Georgia’s conversion to Christianity in the fourth century AD brought it into conflict with the major regional powers. For the next four centuries, despite brief periods of independence, Georgia’s various provinces were vassal states of, successively, Persia, Byzantium and the Arab Caliphs. Towards the end of the ninth century, a gradual process of uniting the provinces began. This was finally completed in 1122 when the regional capital of the Caliphs, Tblisi, fell to King David II. Georgia’s power and influence reached an apex during the late 12th and early 13th centuries under Queen Tamar. The Mongol invasions from 1220 onwards brought this ‘golden age’ to an end. Despite occasional resurgences, Georgia was never able to reassert itself and the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 left it isolated from the rest of the Christian world. The Ottomans occupied Transcaucasia in the late 16th century but were driven out by the Iranian Shah Abbas who installed a dynasty of viceroys at Tblisi. Over the next 200 years, the Turks occasionally recovered control of the territory. But at the end of the 18th century, King Erekle II, a descendant of the Bagratids who ruled Georgia in the 12th century, forged a vital alliance with Catherine the Great of Russia, who was then presiding over the southward expansion of her empire. The Bagratid line was deposed by the Russians in 1801 after which the whole region was steadily absorbed into the Russian Empire. A strong Georgian nationalist movement grew up from around this time, the precursor of the irrepressible Georgian nationalism which has shaped the republic’s history during the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. Briefly independent from 1918 until the invasion of the Red Army in 1921, Georgia distinguished

LA POPOLAZIONE

Popolazione: 4,693,892 (Luglio 2004 stima) Struttura per Età: 0-14 anni: 18,7% (maschi 461,967 ; femmine 416,898) 15-64 anni: 65.8 % (maschi 1,480,217; femmine 1,607,509) 65 anni ed oltre: 15.5% (maschi 290,534; femmine 436,767 ) (2004 stima) Età media: totale 37 anni maschi 34.5 anni femmine: 39.2 anni (2004 stima) Crescita della Popolazione: -0.36 % (2004 stima) Nascite: 10.1 nascite/1,000 popolazione (2004 stima) Morti: 8.98 morti/1,000 popolatione (2004 stima) Migrazione netta: -4.7 emigranti/1,000 popolatione (2004 stima) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.16 maschi/femmine sotto I 15 anni: 1.11maschi/femmine 15/64 anni: 0.92 maschi/femmine oltre i 65 anni: 0.67 maschi/femmine totale popolazione: 0.91 maschi/femmine (2004 stima) Infant mortality rate: total: 19.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.62 years male: 72.35years female: 79.44 years (2004 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (2004 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 900 (2001 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2001 est.) Nationality: noun: Georgian (s) adjective: Georgian Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5% Religions: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6% Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1999est.) male: 100% female: 98% DATI: fonte CIA

LINGUA

MONETA E BANCHE

Money

Currency: Lari (GEL) = 100 tetri. Notes are in denominations of GEL500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10 and 5 tetri. Currency exchange: Euros, Roubles or US Dollars can be exchanged at special exchange shops, while other currencies must be exchanged in banks. Cash is the preferred method of payment, and visitors are advised to carry notes in small denominations. There is unlikely to be a substantial difference between rates offered by banks or bureaux de change. Credit & debit cards: Credit cards are accepted in certain hotels. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Euros or US Dollars are recommended. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is unrestricted. The import of foreign currency is permitted. The export of foreign currency is limited to US$500 or equivalent. Exchange rate indicators: The following table is a guide to the movement of the Lari against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May '04 £1.00= 3.76 3.57 3.83 3.49 $1.00= 2.15 2.10 2.10 1.96 Banking ours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas. Jan 19 Orthodox Epiphany/Baptism. Mar 3 Mothers’ Day. Mar 8 Women’s Day. Apr 9 National Day. Apr 11 Orthodox Easter. Apr 12 Orthodox Easter Monday. May 9 National Holiday. May 12 National Holiday. May 26 Independence Day. Aug 28 Mariamoba (Assumption). Oct 14 Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival). Nov 23 Giorgoba (St George’s Day). Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas. Jan 19 Orthodox Epiphany/Baptism. Mar 3 Mothers’ Day. Mar 8 Women’s Day. Apr 9 National Day. May 9 National Holiday. May 12 National Holiday. May 26 Independence Day. Jun 1 Orthodox Easter. Jun 2 Orthodox Easter Monday. Aug 28 Mariamoba (Assumption). Oct 14 Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival). Nov 23 Giorgoba (St George’s Day).

Social Conventions

Georgians pride themselves on their reputation for gregariousness and hospitality. Visitors sitting in restaurants are likely to be offered drinks by complete strangers. They will then be invited to raise (and empty) their glasses in response to an endless string of elaborate toasts, preferably interpolating a few suitably enthusiastic toasts of their own into the sequence. Smoking is widespread. Visitors may also be entertained in private homes. On such occasions, gifts such as chocolates, flowers or alcohol are well received. On social occasions foreign women will find themselves the object of immense flattery. Those finding such attentions oppressive should avoid giving any hint of encouragement. Appropriate clothing should be worn when entering a church; visitors should ensure they are not wearing shorts and women should cover their heads. Visitors should also be aware that street crime is far from uncommon. Anyone travelling in the republic should be cautious when venturing out after dark, carry as few valuables as possible, and beware of the risk of being robbed and possibly attacked. Tipping: For service in restaurants, cafes or taxis, the bill is usually rounded up.

Sport & Activities

Formerly the holiday haunt of the privileged elite of the Soviet Union, Georgia is blessed with stunning scenery, a balmy climate and a rich variety of flora and fauna. Trekking and mountain activities: The mountains to the north and south of the country offer opportunities for a range of trips, from strenuous trekking in the heights of the Caucasus to gentle walking in the lower pastures. It should be noted that political unrest makes certain areas inaccessible and dangerous, notably the breakaway regions of Abkhazia (in the far northwest) and South Ossetia. Areas bordering these regions are also best avoided. The country’s infrastructure can also present problems to those attempting to reach remote areas without their own transport. For these reasons, it is best to arrange trips through a specialist operator. A guide is usually necessary for visits to the mountains, and porters may be hired. Given these restrictions however, the country is a rewarding destination for serious trekkers. The area around Mount Kazbek (or Mkinvartsveri, meaning ‘ice top’), the third-highest peak in the Caucasus at 16,504 feet (5033m), offers challenging treks. Accommodation is available in two meteorological stations along the way, and special equipment is necessary to attempt the summit. Further east, the Roshka Valley, with its glaciers, and the Chaukhi Mountains also offer strenuous wilderness treks and stark mountain scenery. Lowland walks are possible in both the north and the south of the country. The area around the ski resort of Gudauri (120km/75 miles north of Tbilisi) makes a good starting point for summer walks through mountain meadows full of flowers. Even in the lowland areas, eagles soar overhead and spectacular views can be had. The mountains in the south and east can offer more gentle walks. These regions are also suitable for horse riding and mountain biking, and there are numerous mountain roads and tracks. Special Caucasian horses bred for their endurance and bea

STORIA

Tra il 550 a.C. e il 300 a.C. l'area fu sballottata da un impero all'altro: i Persiani Achaemeniani, i Macedoni e i Seleucidi. I Romani sconfissero questi ultimi nel 189 a.C. e concessero alla gente del posto di costituire degli stati armeni indipendenti. Questi vennero unificati circa un secolo dopo, costituendo la zona di influenza romana più potente dell'Est, dal Mar Caspio alla Turchia centrale, comprendente gran parte dell'attuale Georgia. Intorno al 400 d.C. la parte occidentale dell'Armenia, che comprendeva la Georgia occidentale, fu conquistata dal potente impero bizantino. La zona orientale di Iveria finì sotto il dominio persiano fino a quando gli Arabi musulmani non si insediarono nella zona a metà del VII secolo, stabilendo un emirato a Tbilisi. Il passaggio di potere tra gli Arabi e i Bizantini terminò con l'arrivo dei turchi Seljuk, che conquistarono quasi tutta l'Armenia tra il 1060 e il 1070 e spinsero molti abitanti a spostarsi in Georgia, dove predominava la religione cattolica. La maggior parte dell'attuale Georgia era ormai stata riunita sotto il nome di Iveria. Il periodo successivo al 1122, anno in cui Tbilisi riuscì a liberarsi dalla dominazione araba, fu il periodo d'oro della Georgia, il cui potere si estendeva dall'Azerbaijan occidentale alla Turchia orientale. Tuttavia, la stabilità durò ben poco e, per gli 800 anni che seguirono, la regione fu vittima di avidità e giochi di potere; finchè le truppe di Caterina la Grande non invasero la regione allo scopo di sconfiggere i Turchi. Con lo sviluppo dell'economia e della tecnologia si risvegliarono i sentimenti nazionalisti. Nacquero i movimenti nazional-socialisti georgiani (chiamati in modo poco originale 'primo gruppo', 'secondo gruppo' e 'terzo gruppo'), ciascuno più radicale del precedente. Tra i membri del terzo gruppo c'era Iosif Dzhugshvili, che successivamente cambiò il proprio nome in 'uomo d'acciaio' che, in georgiano, si dice Stalin. Nel 1918 la Transcaucasia si dichiarò una feder

Travel - Internal

AIR: Domestic flights operated by Airzena Georgian Airlines run between Tbilisi and Butani, Kutaisi and Senaki. RAIL: In total, Georgia has almost 1600km (987 miles) of railway. The Government has now restored order on the railway, which had suffered from fuel shortages, armed attacks on trains, sabotage of track and bridges, and there is now a fundamentally sound infrastructure. However, rail travel in the north and west is very difficult owing to the conflict in Abkhazia and visitors are advised not to undertake long-distance rail travel. Rail passengers are advised to store their valuables in the compartment under the seat/bed and not to leave the compartment unattended. It is also a good idea to ensure the compartment door is secure from the inside by tying it closed with wire or strong cord. Reservations are required for all trains. There are two classes of trains, primarily distinguished by the comfort of the seats. Children under 5 years of age travel free and children from 5 to 9 years of age pay half fare. ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. Georgia has approximately 20,000km (12,428 miles) of asphalted roads, and there is an ambitious project to construct a motorway connecting the Black Sea ports to the border with Azerbaijan, passing through Tbilisi. Travellers attempting to drive around Georgia independently should be aware that it is difficult to buy fuel without highly specialised local knowledge and that an adequate supply of fuel should be obtained in Tbilisi beforehand. Also, reliable road maps or signposts do not exist. Buses provide a reliable if uncomfortable service between towns within the republic. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. URBAN: Tbilisi is served by buses, trolleybuses, cable cars and a small underground system. It is common practice to flag down official taxis, but fares should always be negotiated in advance, bearing in mind the likelihood that rates set for foreigners will be unreasonably high.

Travel - International

AIR: Airzena Georgian Airlines (A9) (website: www.airzena.com), the national airline, operates regular flights from Athens, Frankfurt/M, Kiev, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Tel Aviv and Vienna. For further information contact their offices in Paris (tel: (1) 4502 1616; fax: (1) 4502 1601). British Mediterranean, a franchise partner of British Airways, operates three direct scheduled flights to Tbilisi from London Heathrow; contact British Airways for details of flights (tel: (0870) 551 1155). Other airlines serving Georgia include Aeroflot, Air Ukraine, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Turkish Airlines. Approximate flight times: From Tbilisi to London is 6 hours 45 minutes; to New York is 15 hours (both times include stopovers); and to Paris is 4 hours 45 minutes. International airports: Tbilisi (TBS) is 16km (9 miles) east of Tbilisi city centre. Buses and taxis are available to the city centre (travel time – 30 minutes). Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, duty-free shops, first aid and left luggage. In winter, power failures may affect the airport. Departure tax: None. SEA: The main ports are Batumi, Poti and Sukhumi. Batumi and Poti provide international connections with the Black Sea ports of Istanbul, Odessa, Sochi and Trabzon and the Mediterranean ports of Genoa and Piraeus. RAIL: The Transcaucasian railway operates services between Baku (Azerbaijan) and Yerevan (Armenia). The main line runs towards the Russian Federation through Georgia along the Black Sea coast. War in the break-away region of Abkhazia has adversely affected Georgia’s rail link with Russia and it is mainly used for transportation of cargo. ROAD: Highways connect Georgia with the Russian Federation in the north via the Caucasian Road Tunnel (currently closed) and the Georgian Military Highway which runs south through Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan via the Dariali Gorge. At present, visitors are advised not to cross the Georgia–Russia border in

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