Georgians spend 122.3m GEL on domestic tourism in Q1 2018

In total 983.600 Georgians aged 15 and older took trips within their home country in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018, reports the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

These travellers spent 122.3 million GEL (about $49.82m/€42.12m*) in total while travelling in Georgia.

People aged 31-50 were the most avid domestic travellers (205,700 people), while the least people willing to travel were the elderly (38,800 people).

In terms of gender, more women (445,400) travelled around Georgia than men (390,800) in Q1 2018.

Where do domestic travellers go in Georgia?

Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi was the most visited area, where 272,600 people travelled in the reporting period. The Imreti region in the country’s west was the second most popular destination, visited by 190,100 travellers in Q1 of 2018.

Other most visited areas were:

• Adjara – 123,300 domestic travellers
• Kakheti – 76,900 domestic travellers
• Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti – 74,300 domestic travellers
• Kvemo Kartli – 68,200 domestic travellers
• Shida Kartli – 64,000 domestic travellers

Why do Georgians travel around their home country?

Most people travelled to another region in Georgia to visit friends or relatives (558,200 travellers), while the next most common reason for internal travel was shopping (132,400 travellers).

The top reasons for internal travel also included:

• Health and Medical Care – 107,200 travellers
• Visiting another house (cottage, etc.) – 59,800 travellers
• Holiday, Leisure, Recreation – 45,200 travellers
• Business or professional – 43,400 travellers
• Religion – 13,400 travellers
• Education – 5,000 travellers