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Tourism Industry, Infrastructure & Services
Tourism Industry, Infrastructure & Services
As of the present, Oni Municipality's tourism industry, infrastructure and services, are in a state of development with the potential to satisfy the diverse needs of visitors. The region's natural beauty and historic charm are already evident, offering a strong foundation for tourism growth. However, there is room for improvement in areas such as transportation accessibility, variety in accommodation types, and the availability of tourism-related services. Local businesses and MSMEs are emerging, offering unique experiences and products, but there is a need for further capacity building and quality assurance to ensure consistency and excellence. While Oni has the potential to become a sought-after destination, strategic investments and collaborations are essential to enhance the overall visitor experience and position it as a premier rural tourism destination.
Sports, Meeting & Event Facilities
Sports, Meeting & Event Facilities
Oni has only a few spaces that can be used to cater to sporting competitions, meetings, and gatherings. Hotel Manino stands with its well-equipped conference room, providing a setting for professional meetings and small conferences. The town of Oni's “Little Theater,” accommodating around 40 chairs, serves as an intimate venue for cultural performances and small gatherings. The City Hall and Public Service halls host community meetings and government-related events, while the Cultural Center in Oni emerges as a cultural hub, featuring a spacious gallery hall for diverse events, exhibitions, and celebrations. The parks and green spaces provide room for festivals, offering natural and open grounds for celebrations.
Survey respondents emphasized the development of corporate meeting, team building, and conference event space within the municipality, ranking the need as a top 8 priority for the region. This result highlights the significance of these types of facilities in fostering community well-being and growth. The creation of an event center like that would also provide more capacity to host regional events, such as the Folklore festival, more fairly competing with Ambrolauri for a greater percentage of performances and attendees.
Additional Support Services
Additional Support Services
Oni Municipality offers a range of basic services to cater to the needs of both residents and visitors. The healthcare sector is well-supported, with the Oni Central Hospital and 12 primary healthcare facilities providing medical assistance. For daily necessities, there are several grocery stores and supermarkets, including Spar, Libre, and others. Access to pharmaceuticals is facilitated by Aversi Oni pharmacy. For financial services, Liberty Bank and Bank of Georgia operate within the municipality. Additionally, Liberty Bank ATMs are available for convenient cash transactions.
nearby day visit attractions
nearby day visit attractions
This section includes an inventory of attractions outside of the geographical boundaries of Oni Municipality, but may be popular among visitors as day excursions. All of these day excursions are enough distance away that they would require a vehicle or hopping on a marshryutka minivan, which may be more difficult to schedule.
Barakoni Church
The village of Barakoni is just outside the borders of Oni Municipality on the way to Ambrolauri and the church there is worth a quick stop. It is a small wooden church (which is somewhat rare in Georgia), constructed in the 17th century and stands as a fine example of traditional Georgian ecclesiastical architecture with its distinctive design and craftsmanship. The interior of Barakoni Church is adorned with traditional religious artwork and frescoes.
Ambrolauri
Ambrolauri is a more developed town about 30 km southwest of Oni along the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni Pass road. There is a small domestic airport and a number of restaurants, hotels and sites to see. Travelers can savor some of Georgia's finest wines, including the famous Khvanchkara semi-sweet red wine. The Waterfall of Love and the Cultural Center are also sites to see within the town, but the area around Ambrolauri is dotted with caves, waterfalls, hikes, religious sites, and two planned managed reserves.
Nikortsminda Cathedral
Nikortsminda Cathedral is situated in the village of Nikortsminda 15 km south of Ambrolauri on the road to Kutaisi. The cathedral is an important religious monument and dates back to the 11th century, with the original construction completed in 1010, featuring beautiful medieval Georgian architecture. It was built during the reign of King Bagrat IV of Georgia, who was instrumental in promoting the spread of Christianity and the construction of churches and monasteries across the country. Currently, the Nikortsminda Cathedral is on the tentative list for a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
Shaori Reservoir
Nearby, the Nikortsminda Shavladzeebi Lake offers a serene setting for peaceful walks and enjoying the natural beauty, and only 5 km south of Nikortsminda is the Shaori Reservoir.
Khotevi Village
Khotevi is a picturesque village situated on the northern edge of the Racha plateau (10km away from Ambrolauri). With its roots dating back to the 11th century, Khotevi played a vital role in connecting the Imereti region to the lower Racha area. It was a thriving hub of trade, so significant that it was often referred to as a city in historical sources. A visit to this destination offers a chance to delve into the medieval era through exploring the Archangel church and the remnants of a castle nearby.
Destination Governance
Destination Governance
In Georgia, several regional and national organizations play a critical role in the decision-making and implementation of actions that impact the tourism industry and the visitor experience. In recent years, several associations have also emerged to support the growth of Georgia's tourism industry. These include the Georgian National Tourism Association, the Georgian Association of Incoming Tour Operators, the Ecotourism Association, Tourism Alliance, Mountain Guides Association and other sector-oriented professional unions which advocate for the interests of tourism businesses and provide training and support to industry professionals.The involvement of these organizations at various levels of government and the private sector is essential to ensuring the sustainable growth and development of Georgia's tourism industry.
Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA)
At the national level, the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) is responsible for developing and implementing policies related to tourism development, marketing, and promotion. The GNTA is a prominent organization dedicated to promoting and developing the tourism industry in Georgia through advocacy, marketing, capacity building, research, sustainable practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. It serves as the leading entity representing the interests of various stakeholders within the Georgian tourism sector. The GNTA collaborates closely with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the Agency of Protected Areas (APA), the Georgian National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation (NACH), MTA - Mountains Trails Agency with newly established Resorts Development Agency, and other government agencies to ensure that policies and initiatives align with broader economic and social development goals.
Enterprise Georgia
Enterprise Georgia is a government program launched to bolster economic development and attract investments in the country of Georgia. It plays a pivotal role in implementing a range of initiatives aimed at not only attracting foreign investment but also supporting local businesses and fostering overall economic growth in Georgia. The program offers an array of incentives and support mechanisms such as consulting services, technical support, grants, and other forms of assistance, both for foreign and local entrepreneurs and investors looking to venture into the Georgian market. Industry areas their services cover include: Hotel industry, Micro and small business support, Film in Georgia, Credit guarantee mechanism, Balneological resorts industry, and Tourism services industry.
Oni Municipality, Mayor’s Office
The Oni local government is a key institution in shaping the future of this unique and culturally diverse part of Georgia, with a focus on sustainable development and the well-being of its inhabitants. City Hall, with subordination to the executive body of the municipality, plays a vital role in governing and administering Oni city and its surrounding area. It is responsible for overseeing various aspects of local governance, including public services, infrastructure development, education, culture, sports, health protection, and social security of the population and community welfare.
At this municipal level, the local government plays a vital role in shaping and enhancing the tourism sector. This involves implementing strategic policies and ensuring the provision of essential infrastructure and services to cater to the needs of visitors. The efforts of the local government extend to preserving and promoting the region's cultural heritage, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the overall quality of life for its residents. They remain open to supporting tourism development as long as it's within their jurisdiction, emphasizing a comprehensive approach that spans both governance and the promotion of tourism in the region. On its website, the local government includes a special page dedicated to the Sights of Oni and another to the Catering Facilties and Hotels with addresses, facebook pages, and phone numbers listed.
In addition to its direct initiatives, Oni municipality has subordinated non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities, including the Oni Tourist Information Center. Their space rent is covered by the municipality. In addition, there is an Acting Director and six other full-time individuals currently staffed and on payroll for the Tourist Information Center and the overall annual budget is approximately 40,000 GEL that is allocated by the municipality. Currently, the Information Center has limited engagement with the public through social media, posting tourism updates on their wall. Their physical location is outdated and not well advertised through signage or online presence outside of Facebook. The operating hours are published as being from 9 am to 6 pm.
GNTA has selected not to have an MOU with the information center in Oni, as it has with other information centers in the country, due to the low tourist numbers. However, there are some great collaboration and cooperation opportunities to be realized in a MOU between GNTA and the Tourism Cluster of Oni. With the work of the Tourism Cluster of Oni leading to growth of the tourism industry in the region, a stronger relationship and formal partnership with GNTA may be realized in the future.
Tourism Cluster of Oni
Read about the Tourism Cluster of Oni on the About Us page.
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