Georgian residents spent 600 million GEL while travelling abroad in Q3 of 2019

Georgian residents spent 600 million GEL ($200 mln/€180 mln) while travelling abroad in Q3 of 2019, show the latest data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

A total of one million Georgian citizens travelled outside of Georgia in the third quarter (Q3) of 2019.

Most of these trips, 43.4 per cent, were made by travellers between the ages of 31 and 50.

The number of outbound visits by Georgians, defined as trips by people who are over the age of 15 and travel for less than one year, totalled 699,400 said Geostat.

In the reporting period the number of Georgian resident visitors abroad equalled 526,600.

Georgian visitors made 417,700 tourist-type (visit which includes an overnight stay abroad) and 281,800 same-day visits abroad, said Geostat.

In Q3 of 2019, 61.3 per cent of Georgian resident visitors were only tourists (a visitor whose trip includes an overnight stay abroad), while the share of one-day visitors who did not stay abroad for a night was 33.4 per cent. 

In terms of gender, women comprised 47 per cent of the total number of visitors.

Most of the visitors (43.7 per cent) were people aged 31-50. 

Distribution of outbound visitors by the age groups in Q3 of 2019. Photo: Geostat.

The top reasons for visiting other countries included:

• Visiting friends/relatives – 243,800 visits (34.9 per cent)
• Shopping – 207,200 visits (29.6 per cent)
• Business – 126,200 visits (18 per cent)
• Holiday/Leisure/Recreation – 89,800 visits (12.8 per cent)
• Health and medical care – 19,600 visits (2.9 per cent)
• Other – 12,800 travellers (1.8 per cent)

The majority of outbound visits were made to Turkey (350,500) and Azerbaijan (122,200), said Geostat.

Distribution of outbound visits by the visited countries in Q3 of 2019. Photo: Geostat.

In Q3 of 2019 the average number of nights spent during the outbound visits was 4.5 nights.

Meanwhile, 95 per cent of outbound visits were repeat visits, said Geostat.

Distribution of outbound visits by the level of satisfaction in Q3 of 2019. Photo: Geostat.

The average expenditure of a visit amounted to 857.7 GEL ($288.31/€260.71).

Georgians spent the highest amount of money on foods and drinks (34.8 per cent) followed by shopping (30.7 per cent) and accommodation (16.6 per cent).