Registration

09:30-10:00

(Welcome coffee and tea)

Official Opening

10:00-10:10

Tinatin Zoidze - Head of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara

Welcome speech by officials

10:10-10:40

- (Ajara Government Officials)

- Alushca Ritchie - Board Member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, President Emeritus

- Ketevan Meladze - Head of Georgian Association of Guides

Awarding three best tourist guides of 2023 by the Ajara Tourism Guide Association

10:40-11:00

Temur Zoidze - Chairman of the Ajara Tourism Guide Association

Promotional videos of Visit Batumi

11:00-11:10

(Technical break)

Topic: The Role of the Guide in The Promotion of the Tourist Destination. A Tour Guide as an Ambassador of a Tourist Destination

11:10-12:40

Moderator: Nino Khakhubia (Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara)

Panelists:

• Alushca Ritchie - Board member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, President Emeritus (South Africa)
• Cristina Leal - Board Member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, President Emeritus of the Portuguese Association of Tourist Guides and Tour Managers (Portugal)
• Viola Lewis - Leading international trainer of the World Federation of Tour Guide Associations (Great Britain, Scotland)
• Ketevan Meladze - Head of Georgian Association of Guides (Georgia)
• Temur Zoidze - Chairman of the Ajara Tourism Guide Association (Georgia)
• Shalva Khetsuriani - President of the Georgian Sommelier Association (Georgia)

Networking / Coffee Break

12:40-13:00

Topic: Global Tourism and The Profession of a Guide - Unique Experiences, Modern Technologies and Challenges

13:00-14:30

Moderator: Nino Khakhubia (Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara)

Presentators:

• Alushca Ritchie - Board member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, President Emeritus (South Africa)
• Cristina Leal - Board Member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, President Emeritus of the Portuguese Association of Tourist Guides and Tour Managers (Portugal)
• Viola Lewis - Leading international trainer of the World Federation of Tour Guide Associations (Great Britain, Scotland)
• Avidov Bernstein - Certified Guide of author tours of Jerusalem, Photographer (Israel)
• Joanna Lamparska - Founder of Joanna Lamparska Cultural Heritage Protection Fund 'Project History', Guide. (Poland)
• Piotr Kałuża - President of Joanna Lamparska Cultural Heritage Protection Fund 'Project History', Journalist (Poland)
• Shalva Khetsuriani - President of the Georgian Sommelier Association (Georgia)
• Elena Pruvli - Doctor of Philosophy, Communication Arts Specialist (Estonia)

Taking a photo together

Lunch

14:30-15:30

Registration

10:30-11:00

(Welcome coffee and tea)

Greeting: Tamar Kaikatsishvili (Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara)

11:00-11:05

11:05-11:45

• Dalila Tsatava - Gastronomic Culture Researcher, President of the Gastronomic Association of Georgia, Gastro Guide (Georgia)
• Zura Balanchvadze - TV Presenter, Tour Guide (Georgia)
• Tamar Oragvelidze - Doctor of Mass Communication, Associate Professor, Guide (Georgia)

Topic: Tourism and Museums - Museum as a Repository of Cultural Heritage and History

11:50-13:00

Moderator: Tamar Kaikatsishvili (Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara)

Panelists:

• Merab Khalvashi - Rector of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
• Joanna Lamparska - Founder of Joanna Lamparska Cultural Heritage Protection Fund 'Project History', Guide. (Poland)
• Avidov Bernstein - Certified Guide of author tours of Jerusalem, Photographer (Israel)
• Nini Sanadiradze - General Director of Tbilisi Museums Union, Manager of Culture, Professor
• Zaur Akhvlediani - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of Ajara, Deputy Minister, Director of Cultural Heritage Protection Agency of Ajara
• Teona Zoidze - Director of Ajara Museums

Taking a photo together

Dinner

13:00-13:45