Q4 2017: Over 1 million domestic travellers spend 129m GEL

Over one million Georgians aged 15 and older took trips within their home country in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017, reports the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

These travellers spent 129 million GEL (about $52.73m/€42.80m*) in total while travelling in Georgia.

People aged 31-50 were the most avid domestic travellers (331,000 people), while the least people willing to travel were the elderly (49,900 people).

In terms of gender, more women (464,400) travelled around Georgia than men (399,100) in Q4 2017.

Where do domestic travellers go in Georgia?

Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi was the most visited area, where 269,000 people travelled in the reporting period. The Imreti region in the country’s west was the second most popular destination, visited by 196,000 travellers in Q4 of 2017.

Other most visited areas were:

• Adjara – 136,100 domestic travellers
• Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti – 77,400 domestic travellers
• Shida Kartli – 75,300 domestic travellers
• Kvemo Kartli – 68,800 domestic travellers
• Mtskheta-Mtianeti – 64,900 domestic travellers

Why do Georgians travel around their home country?

Most people travelled to another region in Georgia to visit friends or relatives (530,400 travellers), while the next most common reason for internal travel was shopping (141.100 travellers).

The top reasons for internal travel also included:

• Health and Medical Care – 117,700 travellers
• Holiday, Leisure, Recreation – 104,600 travellers
• Visiting another house (cottage, etc.) – 68,500 travellers
• Business or professional – 46,400 travellers
• Religion – 21,500 travellers
• Education – 6,000 travellers

* Currency conversions reflect National Bank of Georgia values as of today.