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HAS TBILISI LOST ITS SOUL? (TBILISI, GEORGIA)

4/24/2017

21 Comments

 
"I've just reached a place.
Where the willow don't bend.
There's not much more to be said.
It's the top of the end.
I'm going.
I'm going.
I'm gone."
- Bob Dylan 
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Social media, cheaper flights, traveling millennials, digital nomads paved the way for the rise in global tourism. In the past few years, global tourism has been steadily growing. Let's face it; nowadays tourism is a big business! The economics of supply and demand is playing a significant role in the Tourism Industry. Yes, one can argue that tourism is good for the country and local businesses, but in doing so, there's a potential risk and to what extent does a country/city have to endure to preserve the genuineness and authenticity of a place? 

The Caucasus Region, its unheard of to some, but for adventure seekers looking for the next great destination, it's the new "it" thing. Georgia, yes the country and not the state in America. Georgia, a small nation located on the cusp of Europe and Asia. It has a rich history and culture dating back to 4th century BC: from alluring monasteries to fairytale-like villages, from cave settlements to natural wonders. The country has landscapes catering to adventure seekers, hikers, photographers and travelers of any kind. Beautiful is an understatement, cliche, but true. On the other hand, Tbilisi, the capital, is in with the new and out with the old. Tbilisi has undergone a tremendous change in gentrifying the city, especially the Old Town. Around the city, new construction and ultra modern architecture dotted the city's emerging skyline. That being said, has Tbilisi truly lost its soul? 

For us, we think we are a little too late in seeing this "off the beaten path" destination. The undiscovered has now been discovered. As you meander through the streets, you are inundated with money exchange booths, tour companies, souvenir shops, taxi drivers promoting their services. Left and right, restaurants advertise traditional food but obviously catering to tourists. Restaurants hosts approach tourists to entice them to eat at their restaurant. Taxi drivers and tour agencies have nudged us more than three times with business cards and flyers. Some of the old buildings are completely renovated to cater to new shops, restaurants, hotels and modern style architecture. On the other hand, other buildings are even completely neglected. The city has remnants of decay, rubble and deterioration. The surrounding neighborhoods is slowly being transformed to cater the demand and needs of tourists, not the local population. Truth be told, as hard as it is to hear, Tbilisi is now a tourist trap. The once not so well-known gem is gone. The city is now a poster child of a soul-less town and has joined the ranks of Cancun, Taj Mahal, and the like. 
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Before visiting, we have seen a lot more favorable and glaring reviews from travelers about this city. After days of research, we decided to go with huge expectations, but sadly, it did not live up to the hype. Even if Tbilisi is not as crowded as Italy's Cinque Terre or New York's Times Square, it's not as satisfying as the articles painted. At the end of the day, we are happy we went and experienced it first-hand. Undoubtedly, Georgia is breathtaking but only spend a day in Tbilisi and get out of town. You can also skip Mtskheta, a complete reconstruction of an old town solely targeting tourists. Instead, we advice you to visit the other more rural and remote villages of the country. 

It's heartbreaking when cities give in to capitalism and lose its quintessence. Arguably Tbilisi needs tourists to boost their economy, but we hope that the government and private owners do its due diligence in preserving the essence of the Old Town. Perhaps five years from now, Tbilisi will entirely succumb to this change and turn to a fully gentrified town. You would think, a less known city would not be as romanticized as Paris, but you have to approach Tbilisi with your glass half full. ​

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Categories: Asia, Georgia, Europe
21 Comments
Nikki The Traveling Ginger link
4/24/2017 09:16:51 pm

I'm glad you posted this. I would have hated to go with high expectations if it has become super toursity and lost its soul as you said. Thanks for being thought provoking!

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Tom link
4/25/2017 05:04:26 am

I think describing Tbilisi as a 'tourist trap' and comparing it to Cancun is a little unfair, but I suppose it depends on what your expectations are prior to visiting.

Clearly there has been a lot of construction over the last few years, and parts of the old town are touristy by Georgian standards, but from what I've heard about Tbilisi in the early 1990s things have improved a lot for its citizens in terms of the levels of crime and corruption. I guess the challenge for any city is to balance progress and improved quality of life with preserving the character and charm of its historic areas.

But I definitely agree with you that Georgia's highlights are outside the city, the scenery in the High Caucasus is absolutely stunning and a completely different world to Tbilisi.

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Tanj from A Travelogue
4/27/2017 01:58:35 pm

Thank you for your support!

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Joy Generoso link
4/27/2017 01:10:18 pm

We've visited Tbilisi and other places in Georgia last 2013 and I don't know how things have changed in a span of 4 years. All I can remember was the beautiful experience we had in Tbilisi, including the generous people we've met that now became our friends. Perhaps we need to revisit the city again to see if Tbilisi has truly lost its soul. :-)

Reply
Albert Bond link
4/27/2017 01:16:18 pm

I also write about the impact of tourism on local communities and its refreshing to see someone else do the same. There is a fine balance between promoting tourism to the benefit of visitors and destroying what is unique about a destination. I haven't been to Tbilisi, but hope to soon.

Reply
Tanj from A Travelogue
4/27/2017 02:00:12 pm

Thank you for this comment. People may disagree or agree with what we think about Tbilisi but you are right about this. Not a lot of people want to write the negative effects of tourism in a city and local communities.

Reply
Nomadic Foot link
4/27/2017 02:00:19 pm

local people and government must preserve culture and history for any city to keep it worth visiting.

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Pia link
4/27/2017 02:09:51 pm

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It´s too sad if a city loses its magic and become too touristy. I believe Georgia is a beautiful country in general but will take care to don´t have too high expectations about Tbilisi when I´ll visit in future.

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Melanie
4/27/2017 02:17:03 pm

I hate the feeling of exploring a place that is supposed to be "undiscovered" only to find out it has become the new place to go! It makes me really want to get out there and see all the off-the-beaten-path places now, because I worry there won't be any left soon!

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Denis Roubien
4/27/2017 05:00:34 pm

It seems you are right in saying that Caucasus is the new "it" thing. A really unknown region, but your account accords with what I've been hearing lately.

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Bob link
4/27/2017 06:13:40 pm

It is hard when a place relies on tourism to balance the tourists with keeping the place in a condition that made it a tourist location in the first place. I have always advocating then when you visit these locations chances are you aren't seeing the real town. There are still lots of opportunities to see the real city and discover great places that the throngs of tourists just don't know about. However, if you travel with a guidebook in your hand running from one tourist site to the next you will probably be disappointed.

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sophie
4/28/2017 07:31:25 am

wasn't sure but after reading your writeup I certainly think it has! :/

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Edgar link
4/28/2017 02:53:48 pm

Many cities are like that. As you mention Times Square in NY. Being from the area I never visit Times Square. The challenge to to find what makes the city special and get out of the touristic zones. I'm sure there is still the Old World charm in Tbilisi, you just have to find it.

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Contrarian Travel Geemiz link
5/5/2017 11:59:04 am

Thank you for the tip. I have been eyeing to visit Georgia in the future.

*I am not sure if you have observed this but in the comment section the label of the boxes are white and hopefully you can enlarge a little the font size of the blogpost.

Cheers to more travel!

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simon
9/22/2017 05:35:17 pm

I am in tbilisi now. I have never been somewhere to which I have taken such an instant dislike. Havery paid to stay here 3 nights but am leaving at dawn.

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Tanj from A Travelogue
9/23/2017 11:44:58 am

Exactly how we felt....

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Megan Nicole link
11/15/2017 05:10:08 am

This is first time I am visiting your website and I find this post very very useful thanks for giving such a great information..
Keep up the good work…I will love to visit your site again and again….

Reply
Desert Trips Morocco link
11/21/2017 02:44:23 pm

Thanks for posting this article! it's very interesting! Keep up the great work!

Reply
Birmingham airport taxis link
11/22/2017 05:56:43 am

nice article thanks for sharing

Reply
Manchester Airport Taxis link
12/8/2017 01:41:16 am

Wow! The photos are amazing! Just inspires one to travel. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Manchester Airport Taxis link
12/8/2017 01:45:37 am

interesting article to read

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