Page 51 - World Of Nurol Magazine 29

As you know, Nurol has been in the domestic tourism
industry for many years. Especially in Ankara, our Sheraton
Hotel is one of the symbols of our capital. We made the first
overseas investment in this sector in 2010 in Batumi. First of
all, how do you evaluate this?

I believe it was a right decision and a great vision to expand
overseas. Nurol is one of the largest companies and its
investments are always a great example on how to run a
successful business, develop innovation, deepen employee
engagement, and achieve challenging goals. As Sheraton
Ankara is the symbol of hospitality in the capital of Turkey,
Sheraton Batumi is not only the symbol of Adjara region,
but also of all Georgia. I deeply believe that Nurol Tourism
Department has a great potential to achieve further growth
overseas and now is the best time for the new opportunities
and investments.

When Nurol had completed this investment, almost none
of today’s hotels were there yet. In a sense we can say that
we are the pioneers. In the meantime, why did the District
attract so much attention?
Overall development of Batumi city was closely connected
with the global economic and industrial development in the
region. Batumi is a popular tourist destination known for its
varying weather, it is a vibrant seaside resort during warm
seasons, but can get entirely covered with snow during winter.
It is important to note that in 2012 the American Academy
of Hospitality Sciences nominated Batumi as the best tourist
destination of the year. Another important factor is the low
tax system, which is very attractive in comparison to other
countries creating a positive business climate, and the
fundamental support of the Georgian Government towards
the new investments.
The 14-km Batumi Boulevard, which stretches in green stripes
along the sea, is another city attraction. The boulevard
was projected and commissioned by the German garden
designer Resler at the beginning of the 20th century. The
colorful, dancing French musical fountains in the boulevard
is enchanting for the audience. With its cafes, nightclubs,
entertainment centers and playgrounds that appeal to every
taste and age, Batum Boulevard attracts young and old people
alike, as well as o§ering environments for spending time with
your loved ones, trekking in the wooded roads, playing games,
sunbathing at the beaches, listening to music or simply sitting
and inhaling the smell of the sea blended in the aroma of the
century-old trees.

Georgia has been in a close relationship with a neighboring
country, Turkey. Especially the fraternity of our border
peoples. Could you speak of historical links between
countries?
Georgians, one of the indigenous people of the Caucasus,
historically consists of three sides: Karts, Mingrels-Çans (Lazs)
and Svans. The Georgians, calling themselves “Kartveli”, name
their lands as “Sakartvelo”.
After the southwestern part of Georgia started to be ruled
by the Ottomans in the 16th century, it can be said that the
Georgians who lived here di§ered somewhat in terms of
culture and lifestyle from the Christian Georgians during and
after the period of converting to Islam.

Georgian, the oªcial language of Georgia, is the only language
among the Caucasian languages with its literary tradition
with a history dating back to the 5 century. The new Georgian
th

52

29 SAYI DERGI NUROL ING.indd 52 26.02.2018 20:18:10