Georgia hosts over 4 million international travellers this year
Tweet 
Share
More and more international tourists are coming to Georgia, and already this year more than four million foreign guests have enjoyed the sights and sounds Georgia has to offer.
Figures showed international tourism was continuing to grow and officials believed this was partly due to the addition of new flight routes and destinations over the summer months. Tourism was now one of Georgia’s fastest growing economic sectors.
Between January and August 2016 the number of tourists who visited Georgia increased by 17.4 percent, while the number of international travellers increased by 8.2 percent, said Georgia’s Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili today.
In the first eight months of the year Georgia hosted 4,247,729 international visitors (tourists, transit, other). Of this number 1,851,917 were tourists, said the Minister.
Between January and August 2016 the most international visitors came from:
- Iran – 497 percent increase y/y
- Jordan – 436 percent increase
- Saudi Arabia – 130 percent increase
- Israel – 59 percent increase
- Kazakhstan – 34 percent increase
- Latvia – 27.2 percent increase
- Hungary – 18.7 percent increase
- Czech Republic – 16.3 percent increase
Reasons behind Georgia’s growing tourism
Georgia’s Economy Minister explained one of the reasons that contributed to increasing tourist numbers was a Governmental campaign that promoted Georgia abroad as a unique tourist destination.
In the first eight months of 2016 the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) launched online campaigns in 16 different countries,” he said.
About 200 articles, blogs, documentaries and TV reports were made about Georgia. In total 434 journalists and 238 tour operators visited Georgia [between January and August]. The GNTA participated in 14 international and local touristic exhibitions,” said Kumsishvili.
Additionally, new flight routes also played a key part in attracting more tourists. In the first seven months of 2016 nine new international routes were added at Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport and Batumi Airports.
Georgia's Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili summed up tourism statistics of this year. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Economy.
The Minister also accented the development of new tourist destinations, which was part of Government’s four-point reform agenda that aimed to develop the country’s economy.
As well as new tourist spots, existing infrastructure was also being upgraded and improved, and this was evident in the various new hotels that opened in Georgia in 2015.
Last year 172 hotels with 3,223 beds were introduced in Georgia. Official statistics show there are now 1,225 hotels and 48,457 beds available for tourists in the country,” said Kumsishvili.
He noted 508 hotels became operational in Georgia within the last three years, which was 58 percent more than the number of hotels open to tourists before 2013.
In fact half of the hotels that are now available in Georgia were created during our Government’s term because we created such special investment conditions that allowed investors to implement their projects easily,” said Kumsishvili.
Looking ahead more than 60 new hotels will be built in Georgia in the coming years, which will bring an additional 3,800 beds for tourists.
Kumsishvili also believed transport development was another key reason why more tourists were now visiting Georgia. He said visitors were put off by poor infrastructure, organisation of activities and other hassles but thanks to efforts that rehabilitated and improved Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport, new flights and routes attracted more tourists to Georgia.
By the end of 2017 construction of a new terminal at Tbilisi International Airport will be completed. Furthermore the number of air bridges will increase from three to five.
New flights will also be offered at Kutaisi International Airport,” said Kumsishvili.
Tourism statistics of 2015
Adjusted figures from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) showed 5.9 million visitors came to Georgia in 2015. This was seven percent growth year-on-year (y/y).
When speaking about the figures Georgia’s Economy Minister said money generated from international tourism in 2015 reached $1.940 billion USD.
A record number of tourists visited Georgia in the first seven months of 2016, says head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze.
Georgia is fast becoming a hot tourist destination for visitors from all over the world.
A record number of tourists have visited Georgia in the first five months of 2016, says head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze.
Georgia’s reputation as a tourist hotspot is growing; the country hosted 20 percent more tourists in April 2016 than in April last year, official figures show.
More than one million international visitors have spent time in Georgia this year, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.
More international visitors are coming to Georgia and last month was no exception.
Today the Ministry of Internal Affairs released data that showed 323,159 visitors came to Georgia in January 2016. This was 4.4 percent more compared to the same month of 2015.
Almost three million tourists have come to Georgia in 2015, and trends show visitor numbers are growing.
Thousands of extra beds ranging from five-star hotels to more intimate experiences at local guesthouses are coming to Georgia, giving tourists more choice about where they stay.
The Government of Georgia is encouraging the private sector to invest more in the country’s hospitality and tourism sectors.
Tourism is growing in Georgia and the country is reaping the benefits of billions of dollars coming into the local economy from international tourism.
Travel in Georgia will become more comfortable after the country’s National Tourism Administration introduces its plan of opening rest areas along all major thoroughfares across Georgia.
Over five million foreign guests have enjoyed the sights and sounds Georgia has to offer this year.
Over six million international travellers have visited Georgia in 2016 – a 7.6 percent increase year-on-year. More specifically, 6,350,825 international travellers (tourists, transit, other) visited Georgia last year.
Georgia welcomed 387,070 international travellers in January of 2017, show the latest data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).