Georgian Entrepreneur Develops Food Tourism with Support from the EU

Nanuli Chelidze, a Georgian entrepreneur based in Ushguli, is expanding her hotel and culinary business with the help of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria. Her journey began in 2012 when her family started receiving tourists instead of just guests. She quickly realized the potential of her venture and obtained a bank loan and a "Produce from Georgia" grant to expand her hotel from four rooms to 22. Today, Villa Lileo is one of the most popular hotels in Ushguli, with over 2,000 guests hosted in 2019.

Chelidze's hotel is located in Svaneti, known for its picturesque views, long ski trails, unique cuisine, and centuries-old traditions. In addition to offering stunning views, VillaLileo has become a destination for tourists to taste Svaneti's dishes. To accommodate the increasing demand for her culinary expertise, Chelidze started holding Svan cooking master classes to teach guests how to cook local dishes. The tourists wrote down the recipes and brought them back to their countries, thereby promoting Georgian cuisine.

With the increasing number of tourists and the growing interest in Georgian cuisine, Chelidze realized that her kitchen could no longer accommodate everyone. Fortunately, she received support from the EU/Sweden/Austria co-funded project, "GRETA | Green Economy: Sustainable Mining Tourism and Organic Agriculture," within the framework of the "EU for Business" initiative. The project helped Chelidze create a new space for her master classes and expand her culinary business.

Chelidze's success story is a testament to her hard work and determination, and her future plans show no signs of slowing down. One of her upcoming projects is the construction of a sauna, which winter tourists have been asking for, as well as a large hall for events such as conferences and weddings. Additionally, Chelidze plans to open a charity pharmacy named after her father-in-law, who was a well-known doctor in the region.

For more information visit GRETA's website.