Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 20 2004

Postcards from the boardwalk
Kobuleti attracts more and more tourists, but not everybody is happy

By Anna Arzanova

KOBULETI – The number of holiday-makers from across Georgia, as well
as other countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia, flooding to the
Black Sea resort of Kobuleti is on the increase.

Immediately after Aslan Abashidze fled the region, the new government
promoted the region has the new economic wellspring, encouraging
investment, government reform and most of all tourism.

Three months after Abashidze’s ousting, residents see improvements
like new roads and new busses, but also complain of increased crime
and favoritism by the new ruling party. The Messenger joined this
summer’s holiday-makers in Kobuleti to find out more.

Kobuleti resident Gela Verulidze has mixed opinions about the changes
that have taken place since Abashidze’s departure. Every year the
number of tourists is increasing, he says, and this year there were
record numbers.

But he regrets “there are no foreigners,” and suggests this could be
because the sea-side is very dirty and there is a lack of facilities.
“It certainly needs a make-over,” he says.

Although he sees some improvements, he says that today there is more
garbage, and more crime. “There was more cleanliness and less crime
during Abashidze’s period. But now there are more robberies in
Adjara. For example, three cars were stolen recently in Kobuleti.
Such thefts never took place in Kobuleti before.”

Verulidze also complains that the change of government had not
generated jobs. “After Saakashvili came to power many people remained
unemployed. You need to be a member of the National Movement in order
to find work. Otherwise you will have no way out,” Verulidze says.

Restaurants are doing very well this season and have a very large
turnover. “They are earning so much money that the owners can get by
during the whole year until another season comes,” Verulidze says.

Other positive changes include the fact that after Saakashvili became
president, such problems as the lack of electricity and lack of water
were solved. Verulidze also noted that after the Rose Revolution the
new government paved the roads in Kobuleti with asphalt and
rehabilitated the park very well. “There is no problem with
transportation in the region, and the buses are reliable and very
cheap,” he says.

However, Verulidze believes that since the May revolution many people
have been wrongfully arrested. “There are very serious repressions
taking place in Kobuleti,” he claims. “Many people have been detained
here, especially members of the Revival Party.”

Nevertheless, Verulidze expresses his hope for the future, which he
says is shared by all Kobuleti residents. “Everybody here really has
hope of Mikheil Saakashvili and we think that he will look after us
as well as the region. We want the old buildings to be repaired and
Kobuleti to become more clean and tidy and to be put in order,”
stated Verulidze.

Hamaiak Aguzumtsian came to Kobuleti from Armenia where he is USAID’s
advisor in social issues. Asked how why he chose to come to Kobuleti
rather than a resort in Turkey, Greece or elsewhere, he says that one
of the reasons is the ease with which his family can travel to
Kobuleti.

“We cross the Georgian-Armenian border without any problem. We pay
nothing there. The authorities have never sought to take money from
us at the border, either before or after the change of government.
Anyway, we travel very well,” Aguzumtsian says.

Aguzumtsian believes that the situation in Adjara has improved. He
remembered that when they were in Kobuleti the last time, they were
traveling by car, and when the policemen saw the car with Armenian
numbers, they stopped them every 5 minutes and demanded bribes.

Aguzumtsian sees changes for the better in Kobuleti. He also noted
the fact that the flow of the tourists from Armenia has increased
this year. “Many people from Yerevan go to Batumi and Kobuleti. Here
is one plus why the people want to arrive here. A round-trip ticket
cost about USD 50-60 and this of course stimulates people to come
here, instead of other places such as Russia and foreign countries.
It is more expensive for us to go to another country for our
holiday,” Aguzumtsian stated.

Aguzumtsian and his family are in Kobuleti for the second time and
they like the people there. “The people are very friendly in Kobuleti
and the attitude toward Armenian people here is also very good. The
prices here are reasonable as well,” explained Aguzumtsian.

He said that it is more expensive to stay in Yerevan cost then to
have a holiday in Kobuleti. “In Kobuleti we eat in cafes or in
restaurants and we spend USD 600-700 on average during ten days,
including our travel at both ends.”

Aguzumtsian said that they can have a cheap holiday in Yerevan as
well, but there is no sea. There is only lake Sevan, which is too
cold. “We also like very much the park here. It is free of charge,
and is very beautiful. There is good entertainment and it is very
clean and bright. We did not notice such things earlier.”

“But what we do not like is that the beach and sea-side are dirty and
at night it is very dark and there are few facilities. Also, you have
to pay to enter changing-rooms and shower rooms,” he complained.

Aguzumtsian expressed his hope that the current government will solve
this problem in the future. He said that they have a better holiday
in Kobuleti for the money than they would in Yerevan, and what’s
more, but they prefer the sea. “We can say that the situation in
Kobuleti has improved,” he concluded.

In contrast, a tourist from Tbilisi Nana Butikashvili expressed her
dissatisfaction with the situation in Kobuleti. She has been
vacationing in Kobuleti for more than 5 years now and said that,
apart from the fact there are many more tourists this year, she sees
no serious changes in Kobuleti. She only goes, she says, because she
wants to go to the sea, and there is no other choice.

Policemen continue to stop cars with non-Adjaran number plates,
Butikashvili complains. And as for the environmental situation in the
region, she thinks that nothing has improved. “Instead of buying
parks and territories in Kobuleti, it would be better if
Patarkatsishvili set dustbins in Kobuleti. They must put in order the
sea-side and beach and create the best possible conditions for the
people,” Butikashvili says.

She is hopeful, though, that the situation may improve. “We have the
hope that everything will be done in Georgia for the people’s
welfare. Those who want to do something for Kobuleti as well as for
Georgia should not do it for their business but with the aim of
charity. In this case everything will be good here,” she says.