Supporting Energy Efficiency in the Tusheti highlands

Meet Ia Bashinuridze, a dedicated woman entrepreneur and recent recipient of a grant from Akhmeta Local Action Group (LAG). She embarked on her journey to develop Hotel Tusheti in 2007, which is nestled in the historic and breathtaking region of Tusheti National Park, where three picturesque valleys converge.

Currently, the hotel boasts 11 cozy rooms, offering comfortable accommodation for up to 30 guests. Additionally, they provide a camping site for outdoor enthusiasts. During the short but enchanting tourism season in Upper Tusheti, the hotel hosts up to 1,000 visitors who come to experience the beauty of this region.

We reached out to Ia to hear about how her business has been improved with the grant support. Here’s what she had to say!

“Thanks to the invaluable support from Akhmeta LAG, we have been able to enhance both the quality and quantity of services we provide. We've received energy-efficient kitchen equipment, a solar heating system, and beautiful furniture. In Upper Tusheti, the absence of electricity is a common challenge for businesses, and this support has been a game-changer for us. I am deeply grateful for this assistance.”

This summer, the hotel hosted a culinary festival, and for the upcoming year, they are thrilled to announce that Ia’s hotel will host the "Aluda" - a traditional Tushetian beer festival – which will become an annual event.

Akhmeta LAG is currently supported by Action Against Hunger, with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) under the project “Improving local governance through inclusive development approaches.”