Intellectual Property Rights and Gastronomic Tourism in Georgia Giorgi Amiranashvili1 Introduction. – IPR and Gastronomic Heritage. Copyright & Traditional Product Labeling. Strategic Role in HCET Value Chain. – Creative Tourism and IPR. The Concept and Characteristics of Creative Tourism. IP Protection as a Foundation for Creative Tourism. – GIs as Drivers of Tourism and Economic Development. Georgia’s Accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement. Unlocking Tourism Potential Through GIs. The Case of Georgian Chacha. – Concluding Remarks. – Bibliography. Gastronomic tourism in Georgia, rooted in millennia-old culinary traditions and winemaking culture, has become a vital driver of cultural preservation, rural development, and destination branding. This chapter examines the intersection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and gastronomic tourism, analyzing how copyright, traditional product labeling, and geographical indications (GIs) safeguard authenticity, strengthen cultural identity, and enhance market visibility. Particular attention is given to the role of creative tourism initiatives and the protection of iconic Georgian products such as Chacha, whose geographical indication has advanced both international recognition and local economic growth. The chapter also considers Georgia’s recent accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, which extends protection of appellations of origin and GIs beyond wine and spirits to broader agricultural and food products, creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism and global competitiveness. Findings highlight that IPR frameworks function not merely as legal instruments but as strategic levers that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural diplomacy. By aligning its gastronomic heritage with international IPR regimes, Georgia positions itself as a distinctive and competitive destination within the global tourism market. Keywords: intellectual property rights, gastronomic tourism, geographical DOI 10.60559/gl16 1 Assistant Professor at Tbilisi State University (Georgia); Junior Fellow of the Institute of European and Comparative Private Law at the University of Girona (Spain). giorgi. amiranashvili@tsu.ge, ORCID: 0000-0003-1097-0126.
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