Routes Silk Road, the route development forum that connects CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia and Routes, announced United Airports of Georgia (UAG) has been officially selected as the host of this year’s on Jul. 6-8. The selection is under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
Held in place of Routes CIS, Routes Silk Road is expected to attract about 250 delegates. Taking place in Tbilisi, the alluring and historical capital of Georgia, the event allows attendees to do business and develop air transport networks offering airports, airlines tourism authorities and other stakeholders.
“The passion and commitment of the United Airports of Georgia and its stakeholders impressed our selection team and we are thrilled that Routes Silk Road will take place in Georgia. Georgia is a gateway connecting several important economic regions including Europe, the Newly Independent States (NIS), Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia and as such it is the ideal location for Routes Silk Road and one which we are looking forward to sharing with the broader airline and airport community,” said Adrian Newton, group director of transport and technology, UBM Live.
Turning Georgia into a regional hub is an important goal, which hosting Routes Silk Road can help to accomplish.
“We are privileged to host Routes Silk Road 2014 in Tbilisi. The fact that Georgia is hosting such an event underlines the great dedication of our country to the industry as well as reflecting our aspiration to turn Georgia into a regional hub, in the nearest future, as one of the important points of the historic Silk Road,” said Minister of Economy Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
Promising to help its host raise awareness of the destination to the global aviation community, the event will also promote the country as an integral geographical location. This is shown by the over 30 percent growth in passenger numbers seen across all Georgia airports since 2012, with an expectation of more growth this year.
The UAG will have the opportunity to showcase David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport during this event, which is the first low cost airport in the region focusing completely on attracting low cost carriers to aid tourism development in Georgia. As a completely state owned enterprise, UAG owns all four airports, which contain three international. Over the last eight years, all airport terminals have been fully remodeled and rejuvenated.
