The Mission of the Georgian National Tourism Administration
Georgian National Tourism Administration is dedicated to implementing state policies for tourism development, fostering sustainable tourism, increasing export-driven revenues, and creating new job opportunities. The mission of GNTA includes promoting Georgia as a prime, year-round tourist destination with exceptional cultural and natural heritage, world-class services, and a tradition of unparalleled hospitality.
The Georgian National Tourism Administration promotes the attraction of international visitors and the growth of domestic tourism. Its goal is to position Georgia as a high-quality tourist destination, distinguished by its rich cultural and natural heritage, exceptional service standards, and longstanding traditions of hospitality, offering visitors a truly unique experience.
Georgia’s rich resort landscape incorporates thermal, sea, mountain and ski, climate, and lake resorts – all situated in picturesque locations surrounded by historical and cultural monuments.
Famous balneological resorts such as Tbilisi Balneological Resort, Tskaltubo, Borjomi, Sairme, Abastumani, Nunisi, Akhtala, and etc. provide different types of services, such as
- Balneotherapy (sulfur baths, volcanic mud treatments)
- Medical/rehabilitation and physiotherapy treatments and procedures
- Hydrotherapy and underwater massage
- Mud treatment
- Therapeutic and relaxing massages
- Cosmetology/dermatological care procedures
- Anti-stress and wellness programs
- Spa rituals and body care procedures/Saperavi wine baths/Cleopatra’s milk baths
- Wellness spa
- Group exercises: yoga, aqua aerobics, Pilates, fitness
Historical Background and development of Georgian resorts
Since the 5th century BC mineral and thermal waters have been used for healing purposes in Georgia. Remains of ancient stone baths are found in Armazi bath in the area of Tbilisi and also in Borjomi. The old legend says the foundation of the capital Tbilisi is related to King Vakhtang Gorgasali (447-502), who was hunting, and the story of a falcon and a pheasant falling into a hot spring. Because of the discovery of hot, Sulphur springs, the king decided to build a city at this location. The name Tbilisi derives from the old Georgian word TBILI, meaning ‘warm’.
The development of modern thermal resorts in Georgia began 200 years ago, in the first half of the 19th century when two springs of mineral water were found in the territory of the current Borjomi Park. These discoveries became the basis for the development of a balneological resort.
Quick Facts
- Over 2,000 mineral and thermal springs found throughout the country
- More than 100 identified balneological resorts and spa locations
- Wide variety of mineral waters (sulfur, radon, hydrocarbonate, chloride-sodium, etc.)
- Diverse resort types: thermal, mountain, seaside, climate
- Natural curative muds and climates in several regions
- The capital city with an ancient thermal bath tradition dating back to the 5th century
- Long tradition of balneotherapy dating back over 2,000 years
- Combination of thermal wellness, mountain, seaside experiences within short travel distances
Georgia’s Thermal Destinations
Tbilisi
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, has a long-standing tradition as a thermal destination. Tbilisi is unique in this aspect, as its name, ‘Tbilisi’ itself, is associated with these thermal water. The Balneological Resort began functioning in 1938, and the building was granted the status of a cultural heritage monument in 1998. The Balneological Resort of Tbilisi is a part of the Great Bathhouse in Tbilisi. The resort area contains thermal mineral waters ranging from +37°C to +47°C. Chemically, these waters are sulfide, chloride-hydrocarbon, and hydrocarbon-chloride-sodium. The daily debit of the springs is 800 thousand liters. The resort offers unique health-improving procedures to its customers: mineral and mud baths with volcanic origin, applications, physiotherapy, and therapeutic and wellness massages.
Abastumani
Abastumani is Climate-balneological resort, located in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. Thermal, flint, sulfate-chloride, and calcium-sodium mineral waters are in Abastumani. Abastumani climate is intended for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the respiratory organs. This resort has a medium mountain (lower belt) climate. Winter is cold and snowy. The snow cover is stable. Summer is moderately warm. The water temperature is +41-48 °C. It is used for the treatment of musculoskeletal, gynecological, dermatological, and peripheral nervous system diseases.
Akhtala
Akhtala is Mud treatment resort, located in Kakheti region. Akhtala is known for its mud of pseudovolcanic origin. The daily flow rate of the mud is 37-47 cubic meters. The temperature of the freshly emerged mud ranges from 14° C to 18° C. Akhtala’s mud is of inorganic origin, gray, and has a loose consistency. It consists of mineral water, tiny crystals, and a colloidal complex. Mineral water (Rampa), mainly composed of sodium chloride, is characterized by high mineralization and contains therapeutically essential trace elements. The therapeutic mud of Akhtala is used to treat bone-musculoskeletal, peripheral nervous system, gynecological, dermatological, and other diseases. Weather is temperate continental: summer is hot, winter warm, and average annual precipitation is 700 mm.
Borjomi
Borjomi is Balneo-climatic resort, located in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. Borjomi mineral water is of volcanic origin, with a rich history of about 2,000 years. Archaeological excavations in Borjomi Valley found several pools and baths made of stone and wood. Some historical records indicate that mineral water was used only for baths in ancient times. Types of treatment are passive climatotherapy, intake (drinking) of mineral water, and mineral water baths. Gastroenterological diseases are treated with Borjomi mineral water. The subtropical climate and resort’s location in a low-mountain forest zone lead to moderately cold winters with little snow and warm summers. Natural healing factors in Borjomi are low mountain air, carbonic acid, hydrocarbon, and sodium mineral waters.
Nunisi
Nunisi is Balneological resort located in Western Georgia, Imereti Region. The primary natural healing factor is mineral waters with a temperature of +27 °C. The daily debit of the springs is 80,000 liters. The water is used for bathing procedures. Nunisi’s mineral water, in terms of composition and healing properties, is unique worldwide. Its baths are an irreplaceable remedy for chronic skin diseases, musculoskeletal systems, and peripheral nervous system pathologies. The climate is subtropical, with mild snowy winters and warm, moderately humid summers. The annual precipitation is about 1200 mm.
Sairme
Sairme is Balneological resorts, located in Imereti region. The place, which started functioning as a resort in 1930, is located in Baghdati municipality in the valley of the river Tsablaris Tskali. The surrounding hills are covered with deciduous (oak, beech, etc.) and coniferous forests. The climate is defined by its location in the subtropical forest zone. At present, Sairme is the largest resort in Europe. The green area covers 60 hectares and it is Georgia’s only resort with four different mineral waters and one thermal spring. There is hydrocarbonate-calcium-sodium water in springs N1 and N3, while in springs N4 and N5, there is hydrocarbonate-sulfate-sodium water. The mineral water of the resort became known at the end of the 19th century. Sairme’s sulfuric waters benefit urinary and bile excretory system diseases, establishing the resort’s urological profile. There is also a sulfur thermal water source with a temperature of +40°C and a flow rate of 500 liters. This water is used in the form of baths for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Tskaltubo
Tskaltubo is Balneological resort, located in Western Georgia, Imereti region. The primary mineral resource of Tskaltubo is thermal healing radon waters, having a temperature of 33-35°C and do not require additional heating for the baths. The therapy with Tskaltubo’s mineral water relieves various health conditions, including kidney disorders, peripheral nervous system disorders, heart and blood vessel conditions, skin disorders, musculoskeletal system issues, endocrine system disorders, gynecological and other diseases. The climate is humid subtropical. The city was officially granted the resort status back in 1926. Nine bathes were constructed on the territory of Tskaltubo Park in the 50s of the 20th century, at present only four of them are in working condition.
