Successful Routes Silk Road Draws 300 in Tbilisi

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TBILISI, Georgia, July 8, 2014/PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

Industry thought leaders meet to discuss route development and other key issues

affecting the region

The first ever Routes Silk Road event, hosted by United Airports of Georgia in

Tbilisi saw attendance from 300 senior aviation professionals from across the

CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia regions, opened with the

Routes Silk Road Strategy Summit on Sunday, 6th July. The event included a

special gathering of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Silk Road

Task Force.

It was clear from the engaging addresses, presentations and discussion sessions

that Georgia and other countries in the region certainly have ambitions to grow

their share of international air services and this country is at the forefront

of developments as it seeks to maximise its geographical position and historic

significance to develop a new Silk Road of air services between Europe in the

west to Asia in the east.

"Although the Silk Road has been serving us for centuries there is still much

to be discovered and developed in the modern era," explained former banker

Giorgi Kvirikashvili, minister of economy and sustainable development of

Georgia and the country's vice prime minister who opened the Summit.

"Governments have strong supportive roles to play in facilitating accessibility

and trade."

These presentations provided an enlightening introduction to the local aviation

market and the first panel session on Finding the right balance - How will

different airline operating models bring success to the region? brought the

views of some of the region's prominent airlines and airport operators together

for a discussion moderated by Yuliya Crane, senior consultant for ASM, the

world route development consultants, who highlighted Georgia as "a proactive

and progressive aviation authority."

With the UNWTO Routes Silk Road Task Force Meeting taking place at Routes Silk

Road, delegates received a video message from Taleb Rifai, secretary general,

UNWTO which was recorded especially for the event. He highlighted the growing

importance of tourism in the global economy and described Georgia as a "leading

example" of how open skies and visa facilitation can work.

These comments flowed nicely into a panel session on the subject of visa and

how Governments influence tourism, which was expertly moderated by travel

writer, John Bell. The session explored what the barriers to change are and how

states could relax regulations and still maintain security.

"One of the impediments to tourism in this region is unduly difficult visa

processes," commented Michael Miller, head of content & industry relations for

Routes, who chaired the conference. "It is amazingly important that these kinds

of issues are being discussed by such prominent industry leaders at Routes

events and we are thrilled with the success of this inaugural Routes Silk Road

event."

In addition to the Strategy Summit attendees participated in more than 800

face-to-face meetings that Routes has become synonymous future air services

planning. A programme of social events was also enjoyed by delegates, the

highlight of which was fabulous Networking Evening Hosted by United Airports of

Georgia at Mtasminda Park above the Tbilisi skyline, where a stunning firework

display lit up the skies over Tbilisi.

For more information and news from the event please visit

http://www.routesonline.com

Notes to Editors

About Routes

- Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events through

its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is one

global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and

CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

- Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a

consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

http://www.asm‐global.com. Routes and ASM are part of the UBM Live division of

UBM plc.

- UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five

continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products,

promote their brands and expand their markets.  Through premiere brands such as

MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes

portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions,

conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and

certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies

across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU,

@airlineroute

About UBM plc

- UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications

company.  We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and

sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and distributing

news and specialist content.  Our 5,500 staff in more than 30 countries are

organised into expert teams which serve commercial and professional

communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively

and efficiently.

- For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at

@UBM_plc to get the latest UBM corporate news; follow @UBM for news from all

UBM's businesses; follow @UBM for a flavour of UBM from selected members of

UBM's Twitterati.

SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd