Georgia: Desired New Year destination for Russian holidaymakers

Georgia has been named the top New Year destination of all Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries for Russian holidaymakers, reported Russian tourism news agency RATA News.

Georgia is traditionally a popular holiday destination for Russian citizens, and at New Year this was no different, RATA News said.

More importantly, Georgia and Armenia were the favoured winter holiday destination of all CIS countries, RATA News said based on information it had collected from various Russian tour agencies.

Tour operator Rena Galustova said more tours were being offered in Georgia and Armenia as the holidays to these destinations were more affordable than other countries.

"This year we offered a tour from December 31 to January 10, where tourists get almost daily exposure to new places. The route travels through Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi. Such a trip together with a New Year's dinner will cost $2,400 per person excluding airfares,” said Rena Galustova, head of the Central Asia and the Caucasus Department at Zharkov Tour tourism agency.

One of the drawcards of coming to Georgia was the wide variety of excursions on offer. Particularly in winter, tourists often asked for excursions to health resorts and to the country’s leading ski areas Gudauri and Bakuriani.