Gudauri Upgrades with Artificial Snowmaking and Night Skiing: Resort Prepares for Winter Season

Gudauri welcomes the winter tourist season with upgraded infrastructure. Additional artificial snowmaking systems have been installed at the resort, and night skiing slopes are scheduled to launch. In parallel, the Mountain Tracks Agency intends to announce the opening dates of the main ski slopes in advance, enabling the hospitality industry to start taking bookings earlier.

According to Gega Salukvadze, founder of the organization "Protect Mountain Resorts", announcing the season opening dates in advance is particularly crucial for the hospitality sector. He noted that hotel and private accommodation owners will thus be able to plan bookings and occupancy rates much earlier.

As Salukvadze stated, one of the most significant innovations is the expansion of the artificial snowmaking infrastructure in Gudauri. A specialized type of snow-generating equipment has been installed at the resort, which, according to him, is currently used in only 25 ski resorts worldwide.

The goal of introducing this new technology is to reduce reliance on natural precipitation. This issue is particularly relevant for the ski tourism business, as insufficient snowfall in previous years negatively affected the season's performance and the operations of tourist venues.

"Our season will no longer depend solely on precipitation. This is extremely important, as reliance on natural snow was one of the biggest challenges for business," Gega Salukvadze stated on air at "Sakmiani Dila".

In his assessment, in terms of infrastructure development, Gudauri had lagged somewhat behind Bakuriani, where infrastructure built for the Freestyle World Championships remained in place for the resort's further growth.

Another novelty for Gudauri is the introduction of slopes for night skiing. According to the industry representative, this option will diversify the resort's offerings. Night skiing is also especially valuable for guests who could not enjoy daytime skiing to the fullest due to unfavorable weather.

Upgrading infrastructure and expanding the range of services are key factors in extending the tourist season and attracting visitors to mountain resorts. At the same time, artificial snowmaking systems allow businesses to make the season more predictable and reduce risks associated with weather and climatic conditions.

The winter tourist season in Georgia will officially open on 20 December with a large-scale event in Gudauri. According to forecasts by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the National Tourism Administration, this winter season is expected to be one of the most successful. Upgraded infrastructure and new tourist opportunities await guests at the ski resorts.