Saakashvili Crackdown Credited With Influx Of Armenian Tourists

Baku Today
Radio Free Europe 18/08/2005 10:13
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According to Vladimir Badalian, a co-chairman of the Armenian-Georgian Association of Business Cooperation, at least 10,000 Armenian tourists have traveled to Georgia’s Black Sea region of Ajaria this year and many more are likely to do so next year. He said they were attracted by not only the relatively low cost of the Ajarian seaside resorts but also by the virtual eradication of police corruption on Georgia’s roads.
[...]
Saakashvili welcomed last week the influx of holidaymakers from Armenia, similarly attributing it to his crackdown on police corruption. [...].
[...]
Saakashvili also called for closer economic times between the two neighboring nations. “I see with delight how rapidly the Armenian economy is developing. Annual growth in Armenia is about 10 per cent,” he said, according to the Georgian Imedi TV. “I think that there are many things we should learn from Armenia, for example how to organize the banking system, a system for micro-loans, a cooperative system in agriculture and the export of agricultural produce.”
[...]
Badalian, [...] was also in Batumi last week along with a group of businessmen from Armenia. He said they are interested in investing in the local tourism infrastructure and were encouraged to do so by local authorities.

Badalian also noted growing Armenian business{es} {are showing} interest in Georgia’s broader economy. “The manufacturing sector of Georgia has lagged behind that of Armenia,” he explained. “Many businessmen here, for whom the Armenian market is too small, are now looking for new markets.”

Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.