GEORGIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY – SPECIFICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT, PROBLEMS, PROSPECTIVE

Tourism development is one of the priority directions of the Georgian economy, since this sector significantly ensures the socio-economic growth of the country, hence, raising the level of living of the population.Therefore, in the modern stage, it is vitally necessary to implement state policy in the country, which will facilitate solving problems in the field of tourism and sustainable development of the sector. These are the issues discussed in the work – “Georgian Tourism Industry – Specifications of Development, Problems, Prospective”. The article notes that despite the many political and socio-economic problems accumulated in the country, travelers and tourists flows intensively, which is a positive result of the development of the sector. However, unfortunately, the negative impact of humanity on the nature is strengthened, which is evident in most types of tourism.The article indicates the possibility of avoiding negative ecological processes with reasonable management of anthropogenic negative impact. These requirements are most fully answered by ecological tourism - controlled form of the natural tourism.The research proves that the mass scale of tourism causes not only a negative ecological impact on nature, in addition, it can not answer the challenges facing the country - the sustainable development of the country and the increase in income from tourism, increasing the importance of the sector.As a result of the survey, it is confirmed that for the substantial increase of income received from the tourism service of Georgia is necessary to change the structure of the visitors arriving in the country; In particular, to increase the number of tourists with high paying potential at the expense of decreasing share of mass tourists.To do this, it is necessary to develop and implement such activities, which will make Georgia's natural and cultural resources as world-class tourist products and creates the possibility of making unique impressions. It will facilitate attracting high-paying contingent from EU countries, North America and Asia.The number of tourists with such potential would reduce the risk factors associated with environment and finances and ensure the increase of the state treasury, as well as ensured the socio-economic development of the country and the importance of the sector. The complex of the event is proposed the practical implementation of which promotes tourism business development to improve macroeconomic, institutional, social and legal environment; The necessity of development of tourism business development strategy and action plan is proven. Keywords: Georgia; Tourism; Industry; Protected areas; High Payment Skills