A new program of grants will be launched starting September for the owners of small and family-type hotels – Natia Turnava, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development told journalists.

According to Turnava, the new program will be one of the mechanisms to assist the tourism sector affected by Russian air sanctions. The Minister said that work is ongoing on co-financing of interest rates on bank credits and financing of marketing activities.

“We have ongoing contract with CNN, Bloomberg, and National Geographic where Georgia is advertized and popularized as being a safe and attractive country for tourists. Marketing plans and campaigns have been corrected for the Baltic States, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine,” Turnava said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned Russia’s airlines from flying to Georgia, a day after a Russian lawmaker Sergey Gavrilov’s visit to the country prompted violent clashes between protesters and police in Tbilisi on June 20.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree imposing a temporary ban on flights, including commercial ones, from Russia to Georgia starting July 8.