Demand for local tour guides in Adjara has increased, while supply remains insufficient, according to Temur Zoidze, head of the Adjara Tourism Guide Association. He told BMG that local guides have become more employed and are seeing improved economic conditions.
Zoidze said the law that came into force on May 1, which prohibits individuals without permanent residency from working as guides, has had a positive impact in the region. He argued that previously, foreign guides were sometimes providing inaccurate interpretations of Georgian culture, history, and traditions, making regulation necessary.
He added that the new rules have helped local guides secure more jobs, improving their financial situation. However, he believes there is now an imbalance between growing demand and limited supply of qualified professionals.
According to Zoidze, training programs for new guides have already started, but time is needed to prepare skilled staff. He also suggested that while the zero quota on foreign guides should generally remain, limited exceptions could be allowed for rare languages such as Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Hebrew during a transitional period.
