Almost 25 percent more tourists visit Georgia this year
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Georgia’s attractiveness as a tourist destination is increasing, suggest data from January and February of this year.
In the first two months of 2017 alone, 294,000 tourists* spent time in the country, making for a 24.3 percent increase year-over-year (y/y).
Overall, 755,080 international travellers (tourists, transit, other) visited Georgia in the first two months of 2017 – 10.5 percent more compared to the same period in 2016.
Tourism is one of our country’s main priorities and a number of governmental agencies are involved in its development process”, said Georgia’s Deputy Economy Minister Ketevan Bochorishvili today, while summarising the January-February tourism statistics.
Every single tourists who comes to our country makes a positive impact on the development of the private sector, employment and revenue growth. Our goal is for Georgia to become a four-season tourism destination. Taking into account the tourism data of January-February, we should consider that tourists are actively interested in Georgia’s winter resorts”, she added.
The highest number of visitors who came to Georgia in January-February 2017 were from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.
A positive trend was also maintained by visitors from the European Union:
- Germany - 35 percent increase
- Poland - 30 percent increase
- Bulgaria - 29 percent increase
- France - 19 percent increase
Also, a higher number (26 percent increase) of tourists came to Georgia from the United Kingdom, mentioned Bochorishvili.
Exceptional growth in visitor numbers was recorded from the following countries:
- Iran – 438 percent increase
- Uzbekistan - 211 percent increase
- India - 129 percent increase
- Israel - 65 percent increase
- China - 38 percent increase
- Russia – 36 percent increase
The deputy minister also said that in February of 2017 alone Georgia hosted 368,010 international travellers (2.1 percent growth y/y) and 139,918 tourists (16.4 percent growth y/y).
[The high number of tourists] is a result of a well-guided marketing campaign which our country has been actively implementing during the past several years. The government strives to raise awareness of Georgia abroad and make the country a popular tourism destination. As a result international tourism revenue reached $1.7 billion in the first three quarters (Q3) of 2016, which was $177 million or 11.7 percent more than in the same period of 2015”, said Bochorishvili.
Ed. - *Tourists are considered individuals that spend more than 24 hours in the country.
Georgia welcomed 387,070 international travellers in January of 2017, show the latest data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).
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.
Over five million foreign guests have enjoyed the sights and sounds Georgia has to offer this year.
Tourism is growing in Georgia and the country is reaping the benefits of billions of dollars coming into the local economy from international tourism.
Tourists, travellers and pilgrims will soon be able to get to the Gergeti Trinity Church - one of Georgia’s most visited landmarks - by an upgraded and modernised road.
Georgia is getting ready for the summer tourism season, starting marketing campaigns in 14 targeted markets in a bid to attract more tourists.
The number of international visitors coming to Georgia is increasing show data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).
Georgia hosted 510,594 international travellers in April 2017, which was 10.2 percent increase compared to the same month of 2016, show data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).
Georgia hosted 552,958 international travellers in May 2017, which was 5.7 percent increase compared to the same month of 2016, show data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).
Georgia hosted 666,493 international travellers in June 2017, which was 28.5 percent increase compared to the same month of 2016, show data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).