GCCSA-2021- 6th Global Congress on Contemporary Sciences & Advancements Hosted online from Rome, Italy online-conferences.com June 5th, 2021 PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPELEOTOURISM IN GEORGIA Associate Professor Tamar Tamarashvili, I. Gogebavili Telavi State University, Faculty of Business and Law, Social Sciences Associate Professor Lana Mzarelua, Sokhumi State University Abstract.: In the modern period, speleotourism is popular in many countries of the world and Georgia also has a great resource of speleotourism and development prospects. Caves and cave complexes in our country provide an opportunity to create interesting and attractive speleological tourist routes for tourists. Therefore, the main purpose of the paper is to identify the resources of speleotourism in Georgia by the authors, to reflect the prospects for its development and also to present the opportunities for the development of speleotherapy. Main part Georgia is a country with inexhaustible tourist resources that depends on Georgia's geographical location and natural conditions. Georgia is also called the country of caves AS there are about 1500 more caves registered in the nation with the most of the caves being found in western Georgia. We will discuss some outstanding caves: Sataplia karst cave, which was accidentally discovered by local resident Petre Chabukiani in 1925. An excellent reserve has been created in this place, the purpose of which is to protect the Kolkheti forest, karst cave and other archeological values. The beautiful karst cave is the main attraction and pride of Sataplia Reserve. The total length of the cave is 900 meters, but 300 meters is accessible to tourists. LED lighting is installed throughout the cave. Hundreds of different lamps illuminate stalactites and stalagmites. Due to the low air temperature and moderate humidity, the microclimate of the cave is curative for people with various diseases of the lungs and bronchi. Krubera Cave - Located in Abkhazia, Gagra Municipality, which is currently occupied by Russia, but it is necessary to mention it, because it is a real wonder, the first in the world in terms of depth. The cave was discovered in 1960 by the Russian geographer Alexander Kruber (1). At 2320 meters above sea level, miniature stalagmites, stalactites and curtains can be found here, there are also streams of water and small lakes in the caves. New Athos Cave is located in Gudauta Municipality, on the territory of Khaliaton, at 220 meters above sea level (the territory of Abkhazia is currently occupied by Russia). It is one of the largest caves in the world and consists of 11 halls, namely: "Abkhazia", "Georgian Speleologists", "Clay", "Canyon", "Iveria", "Surprise", "Sukhumi", "Tbilisi", "Helicite Salon" , "Temple", "Moscow". The total depth of the cave is 183 meters, and the total length is 3285 meters. (2) New Athos Cave is one of the most beautiful, impressive and diverse in Georgia, it attracts many visitors with its unique shapes and decorated halls. Stalactites, stalagmites, stalagmites, helictites, columns, petrified waterfalls, curtains and more are found here. The depth of one of the siphon lakes in the cave reaches 26 meters. The Prometheus Cave Natural Monument is located in the Imereti region, its length is 1.8 km and it is formed at a depth of 40 m above the ground. (3) Prometheus Cave is a world-renowned natural beauty site. Its age is about 60-70 million years. Decorated with amazing galactic forms of stalactites and stalagmites, this karst cave will once again convince you of the boundless possibilities of nature and take you on a journey into a fabulous world. Prometheus Cave is located in the village of Kumistavi, Tskaltubo Municipality, on the river 115 GCCSA-2021- 6th Global Congress on Contemporary Sciences & Advancements Hosted online from Rome, Italy online-conferences.com June 5th, 2021 Kumisauz. A total of 22 halls have been discovered in the cave, of which 6 halls have been opened for tourists so far. In the cave it is possible to walk the 1420 meter long trail, visit the halls and take a boat tour. In Georgia, despite the abundant resources for the development of speleotourism, today there are only three caves (Proemte, Sataplia and Navenakhevi), which are well-equipped and meet all safety standards. In addition, in our country there are about 1500 caves and caverns that are discovered but not used for tourist purposes. For example: Melouri, Bgheri, Ghliana, Tsutskhvati, Khomuli, Tsatskhi, Chain Bridge, Tobi, Usholti, Mghvimevi, Nazodelavi, Noghi, Kortskheli Caves, etc. (1) The development of this field requires the existence of various infrastructures, such as: hotels, information, roads and means of transport, and different types of communications channels, all of which directly affect the people living there. In this regard, it is important to have the support of both the state and local government for the development of this field of tourism. Today, along with traditional methods of treatment, non-traditional methods are one of the most effective treatments such as speleotherapy. Today, speleotherapy is considered to be one of the most effective methods of treating chronic diseases of the lungs and bronchi. Initially, only natural salt caves and mined salt mines were used for speleotherapy. To undergo a course of salt treatment today you need to go to places where there are natural deposits of salt. No less effective speleotherapy is carried out in specially equipped rooms in hallucinations. Such a building is created in sanatoriums, hospitals, dispensaries. The speleotherapy room is maintained at a constant humidity of the air, the temperature in the composition of the upper gases. Air, which contains a high concentration of sodium chloride ions, promotes the liquefaction and excretion of phlegm, has anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, disinfectant and immunomodulatory effects. Inhalation of saline aerosol improves the function of airway drainage, reduces the symptoms of inflammation of the bronchi, obstruction and spasm. (2) Recently, the demand for medical tourism has increased all over the world, including speleotherapy in the Navenakhevi (Satsurblia) cave in Georgia. Georgian and Czech scientists have studied the healing properties of the cave. This cave has a unique microclimate. From 10 days, 3 hours a day are devoted. After three months it is possible to repeat this course. Conclusion: Thus, as can be seen from the paper presented; 1. Georgia is a country with inexhaustible tourist resources and there is a unique opportunity for the development of speleotourism in Georgia, as evidenced by the caves we have discussed. The development of speleotherapy together with speleotourism will contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic situation of the country, the reduction of the outflow of population from the regions, the existence of jobs, the development of tourism and general infrastructure; 2. It is important to have the support of both the state and local government for the development of this field of tourism. We also believe that the principles of sustainability should be taken into account, which means that we must take care of the resources of speleotourism in order to pass it on intact to the next generation. We must avoid and control the hand-contact with stalagmites and stalactites and their damage, as they take several thousand years to repair. Sources 1. Maruashvili Fundamentals of Cave Studies. General Speleology. Tbilisi University Press, 1973 2. Lanchava O. Tsikarishvili K. Tskaltubo (Prometheus) cave system. Tbilisi State University Publishing House 2016. 3. Tintilozov Z. Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, Vol. 11, Tbilisi, 1987. 116 GCCSA-2021- 6th Global Congress on Contemporary Sciences & Advancements Hosted online from Rome, Italy online-conferences.com June 5th, 2021 Resume Associate Professor Lana Mzarelua, Sokhumi State University Associate Professor Tamar Tamarashvili, I. Gogebavili Telavi State University, Faculty of Business and Law, Social Sciences Prospects for the development of speleotourism in Georgia The article by the authors states that Georgia has a great resource in the development of speleotourism and speleotherapy. This is evidenced by the caves in Georgia, which number more than 1500. Most of the caves are found in western Georgia. Among them is the deepest Kruber Cave in the world. The multiplicity and diversity of the caves makes it possible to model interesting and attractive speleological tourist routes. According to the authors, speleotourism is a real extreme that fascinates tourists from all over the world. This is a visit to the caves for sports and educational purposes, which is very interesting for active recreation, which involves going through natural underground cavities and overcoming various obstacles using special equipment. According to the authors, the development of speleotherapy together with speleotourism will help improve the socio-economic situation of the country, in this regard it is important to support both the state and local government for the development of this field of tourism. They also believe that the principles of sustainability should be taken into account. 117 .