I think the United Nations has a thing about wine. I recently wrote about the surprising number of wine regions that have received Unesco World Heritage site recognition, for example. Now the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is getting into the act. The 1st UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in the Kakheti wine region of Georgia from 7-9 September 2016. “Wine tourism represents a growing segment with immense opportunities to diversify demand. In the case of Georgia, this potential is well-known and we are very pleased to be holding the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the country,” according to UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.History is part of the story, but it is also true that wine is an effective way to promote tourism and economic development. Come for the wine (and food) and stay for the people, culture, history and geography. Trade and investment flows may follow the wine route, too. Georgian officials appreciate this logic.

“Georgia’s unique wine-making traditions date back 8,000 years and are part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage, creating the ideal base to host the Wine Tourism Conference. Herewith, the country’s recent success in attracting a growing number of tourists, its development in terms of tourism products, branding and marketing present an excellent platform to share best practices, experience and knowledge¨ according to Dimitry Kumsishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. U.S. regional wine associations with a strong interest in wine tourism may be able to participate in the Georgia program, but I am not sure about the details.  More information can be found here. I wrote about wine tourism in my book Extreme Wine, so I am going to be following this initiative closely. Best wishes to Georgia and the UNWTO for a successful inaugural conference.Skip to Main Content Area 1st UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the Georgian National Tourism Administration, proudly organized the 1st UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism, which was held in the Kakheti wine region of Georgia on 7-9 September 2016.

For 8000 years, wine grapes have been cultivated in Georgia. Proclaimed by archeologists to be the “Cradle of Wine”, Kakheti, Georgia´s main wine-producing region and of one the oldest regions in the world, is the land of hospitable, open-hearted people that live surrounded by monasteries, ancient castles and glorious churches. dry white wine choicesKakheti is characterized by its unique vine grape varieties, ideal climate, countryside, and centuries of exceptional winemaking experience. buy italian wine directKakheti is home to 65% of Georgia’s vineyards, harvesting 80% of the country’s grapes. can you buy wine in england on sundayUnique and award winning Georgian wines and brandies are produced there, using ancient techniques by generations of small farmers.best kind of wine with chicken

The event convened over 200 participants including representatives from the Ministries, Destination Management Organizations (DMOS), National Tourism Organizations (NTOS), and tourism experts from nearly 50 countries. It offered a unique opportunity to discover the richness of local Georgian culture and to exchange innovative ideas to promote wine tourism between destinations, a key component of gastronomy tourisdm and a growing pillar in the strategies of diversification of many destinations. best light red wine 2013The unique and dynamic format of the conference fostered the involvement of the attendees, as interactive debates took part at each table together between the participants and the expert speakers.best white wine in spain The conclusions of the Conference will be a compilation of all the information debated during each meeting and will be uploaded soon.

Georgia Declaration on Wine Tourism Pictures of the event Press release: Wine Tourism - a growing tourism segment Press release: UNWTO to hold the 1st Global Conference on Wine Tourism in Georgia in 2016 UNWTO Prototype on Wine Tourism: Joyful Journey UNESCO Multimedia: Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method Speech from Alfredo Cornejo, Governor of Mendoza Province, Argentina (ENG) Discurso de Alfredo Cornejo,Gobernador de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina UNWTO A to Z About UNWTOAccessibilityAffiliate MembersAnnual ReportBiodiversityCampaignsClimate changeContact usDestination managementE-libraryEducation and TrainingEthicsEmployment and InternshipsExecutive Council FactsheetsGenderGeneral AssemblyGeneva Liaison OfficeGlobal Code of Ethics for TourismHotel Energy SolutionsInternational Calendar of Tourism EventsUNWTO Network of Observatories (INSTO)Knowledge NetworkMember StatesManagementNewsNewsletterPoverty alleviation

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