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President: Abkhazia should develop as agricultural country, though tourism is also of importance

The president continued saying Abkhazia could not manage a million guests

SUKHUM, September 6 (Itar-Tass) - Abkhazia should develop first of all as an agricultural country, though the tourism sector is also of importance, Abkhazia’s President Alexander Ankvab said on Friday.

“In my opinion, Abkhazia should remain an agricultural country with a well developed tourism industry,” he said. “There is no other way.”

The president said the information published in some media about several million tourists a year was not correct.

“Back in the Soviet times, we had about 130 resort facilities for 400,000 guests, and now - 82 facilities to accommodate 150,000. This is our potential,” he said.

The president continued saying Abkhazia could not manage a million guests. Even in the Soviet times, before the destructing conflict with Georgia, the republic accommodated annually not more than 1.1 million guests.

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