| Industry thought leaders meet to discuss route development and other key issues
affecting the region
The first ever Routes Silk Road event, hosted by United Airports of Georgia in
Tbilisi saw attendance from 300 senior aviation professionals from across the
CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia regions, opened with the
Routes Silk Road Strategy Summit on Sunday, 6th July. The event included a
special gathering of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Silk Road
Task Force.
It was clear from the engaging addresses, presentations and discussion sessions
that Georgia and other countries in the region certainly have ambitions to grow
their share of international air services and this country is at the forefront
of developments as it seeks to maximise its geographical position and historic
significance to develop a new Silk Road of air services between Europe in the
west to Asia in the east.
"Although the Silk Road has been serving us for centuries there is still much
to be discovered and developed in the modern era," explained former banker
Giorgi Kvirikashvili, minister of economy and sustainable development of
Georgia and the country's vice prime minister who opened the Summit.
"Governments have strong supportive roles to play in facilitating accessibility
and trade."
These presentations provided an enlightening introduction to the local aviation
market and the first panel session on Finding the right balance - How will
different airline operating models bring success to the region? brought the
views of some of the region's prominent airlines and airport operators together
for a discussion moderated by Yuliya Crane, senior consultant for ASM, the
world route development consultants, who highlighted Georgia as "a proactive
and progressive aviation authority."
With the UNWTO Routes Silk Road Task Force Meeting taking place at Routes Silk
Road, delegates received a video message from Taleb Rifai, secretary general,
UNWTO which was recorded especially for the event. He highlighted the growing
importance of tourism in the global economy and described Georgia as a "leading
example" of how open skies and visa facilitation can work.
These comments flowed nicely into a panel session on the subject of visa and
how Governments influence tourism, which was expertly moderated by travel
writer, John Bell. The session explored what the barriers to change are and how
states could relax regulations and still maintain security.
"One of the impediments to tourism in this region is unduly difficult visa
processes," commented Michael Miller, head of content & industry relations for
Routes, who chaired the conference. "It is amazingly important that these kinds
of issues are being discussed by such prominent industry leaders at Routes
events and we are thrilled with the success of this inaugural Routes Silk Road
event."
In addition to the Strategy Summit attendees participated in more than 800
face-to-face meetings that Routes has become synonymous future air services
planning. A programme of social events was also enjoyed by delegates, the
highlight of which was fabulous Networking Evening Hosted by United Airports of
Georgia at Mtasminda Park above the Tbilisi skyline, where a stunning firework
display lit up the skies over Tbilisi.
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