We sat down with Maia Labadze, founder and director of the travel agency Apple Tour. A familiar name to many, Maia has built her career on adaptability, persistence, and a commitment to personal growth. Her journey reflects a willingness to embrace challenges and pursue opportunities beyond her comfort zone—an approach that continues to shape her work and outlook.
Maia, please tell us about the journey that brought you here.
I lived in Gagra, Abkhazia, with my family. At the time, tourism was just a hobby. I loved meeting people, discovering new places, and learning about different cultures and traditions. This passion led me to work as a guide for a travel company. Over time, I realized I could do more, so I decided to start my own agency. The path was full of both challenges and emotions. Where I had once only been responsible for guiding tourists, I was now planning entire tours, designing routes, calculating expenses, and managing every detail. All this was happening in the post-war period.
Being a Georgian woman in Abkhazia gave me a unique status. I was warmly welcomed—perhaps because my mother is Abkhazian and my father is Georgian. Alongside my work in tourism, I also taught English at a local school.
What challenges did you face along the way?
Although I had established a life in Abkhazia, there came a turning point that changed everything: my son’s education. I wanted him to learn Georgian, which was unfortunately not possible in Abkhazia. So I returned to Georgia.
For me, tourism is negotiation, diplomacy, love, culture, tradition, and history—values that are timeless and universally respected
Starting over was not easy, but I was prepared for the challenges because I was home—in my own city. I embraced the difficulties and grew through them.
At first, I had no source of income. I began thinking about how to overcome unemployment, and that’s when the idea came to continue my passion and experience—this time, in my own city.
When and how did you establish Apple Tour?
The challenges I faced inspired me to establish my own travel agency, Apple Tour, marking a new chapter in tourism—this time in Batumi.
Today, I run the agency and organize bus tours to destinations in Georgia and Turkey. Previously, we also offered domestic and international tours, including airline tickets, travel insurance, and full tour packages.
What was a turning point in your business?
Everything was going smoothly—until the pandemic. Like so many others, my business was hit hard. Tourism came to a standstill. I experienced significant losses, but I chose to adapt. I focused solely on bus tours, and I continue to work in that direction today.
What does tourism mean to you?
For me, tourism is negotiation, diplomacy, love, culture, tradition, and history—values that are timeless and universally respected.
Tell us a little about your family.
My father is a sailor, and my mother is a teacher. I have two sisters and a loving, supportive family. My biggest motivator is my son—because of him, I never let myself slow down.
Can you share any of your future plans?
I don’t like to speak about my plans until they’re fully realized. Experience has taught me to stay quiet and take action. What I can say is that I’m actively working on some ideas, although they are not related to tourism.
The most emotional part for me is this:
When I lived in Abkhazia,
I was Georgian in Abkhazia.
Now that I live in Batumi,
I am Abkhazian in Batumi.
And through it all, I say only one thing:
I am Georgian.
Interview translated by Kesaria Katcharava
