LONDON — Wine tourism is set to really take off next year after it was announced that the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in Georgia’s Kakheti wine region from Sept. 7-9, 2016.

The UNWTO and the Georgian National Tourism Administration made the announcement at World Travel Market (WTM) in London. As explained by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, who led the presentation with the Head of Georgian National Tourism Administration, George Chogovadze, and the Georgian Ambassador to Spain, Zurab Pololikashvili, “Wine tourism represents a growing segment with immense opportunities to diversify demand. In the case of Georgia, this potential is well known as we are very pleased to be holding the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the country.”

Dimitry Kumisishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, also commented: Georgia’s unique wine-making traditions date back 8,000 years and are part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage, creating the ideal base to host the Wine Tourism Conference. Herewith, the country’s recent success in attracting a growing number of tourists, its development in terms of tourism products, branding and marketing present an excellent platform to share best practices, experience and knowledge.”

To foster the development of gastronomy and wine tourism, UNWTO launched the UNWTO Gastronomy Network this past September.