Ski slopes and rich culture earn Georgian town top tourist title

(21 Mar 2023)
GEORGIA MESTIA TOURISM

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 5:38

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mestia, Georgia - 18 March 2023

1. Wide of skiers on Tetlundi mountain
2. Mid of skiers at Tetlundi mountain
3. Mount Ushba
4. Wide of skiers with Caucasus Mountains in the background
5. Various of skiers
6. Various of skiers on elevator
7. Close of skiers
8. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Ekaterine Chagelishvili, tourist from Tbilisi:
"Georgia is a very diverse country with its landscape and climate. You can see many things in Georgia. But in Georgia, Svaneti is a special place. When you are here and going up into Tetlundi mountain, where we are now, you feel that you are at the centre of the word, this is Tetlundi. The scenery that unfolds from here is one of the main stimuli in life and this is one of the places where a human being can be very happy."

9. Various of skiers
10. Tracking shot of skiing

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mestia, Georgia - 19 March 2023

11. Wide of Svanetian towers
12. Mid of Svanetian towers
13. Svanetian tower, tilt DOWN to people entering it
14. Close of people entering Svanetian tower
15. View of Mestia from the tower, pan of tourists climbing up
16. Close of tourist climbing stairs in tower
17. Mid pan of tower interior
18. Mid of tower
19. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Makvala Gurchiani, local resident:
"Ski tours, mountain climbing, rock climbing (are the most demanded by tourists) and many more. We have attractions for four seasons, there is much to see here. Svaneti is very interesting in good or bad weather."

20. Wide of exterior of Laghami church of Christ
21. Mid of visitors inside the church, tilt up to frescos
22. Various of frescos
23. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Rezo Khojelari, tour guide:
"This church represents one of the most interesting places for Svanetian cultural heritage, because two storey churches are very rare in Georgia and in Svaneti too. And also, it has frescos from the 10th, 12th and 13th centuries and also the facade painting is also preserved."

24. Various of interior of church
25. Wide of Mestia
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Karner, head of Georgian office of Austrian Development Agency: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"It is an impressive tourist destination, but it has to become attractive for internationals as well. So, Austria together with the European Union and Switzerland is partnering up and we are promoting and developing a tourist segment, segments I would say. Lot of these segments are related to cultural heritage, to the wine, to the food, but also to hiking and buildings."

27. Wide of Mestia Museum exterior
28. Mid of hall in Mestia Museum
29. Various of exhibits and visitors

STORYLINE:
LEADIN:

A small village in Georgia's Caucasus mountains, has earned a reputation as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Mestia's pristine ski slopes and rich cultural heritage have secured it a place on the UN World Tourism Organization's Best Tourism villages of 2022.

STORYLINE:

Ski enthusiasts enjoy the slopes of Tetlundi mountain, ovcerlooking Mestia.

Unlike many places where the snow has already melted, here in the Caucasus mountains at an elevation of between 2,200 - 3,100 meters, skiers and snowboarders can indulge in sports activities all year round.

Tetlundi also offers expert skiers a great opportunity to test their abilities on ungroomed terrains.

Many just come here to see the breathtaking landscapes.


But it is not only the ski slopes that Georgia's Svaneti region and its capital Mestia can offer tourists.



















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