Q1 2020: number of Georgian travellers taking trips abroad declines 8.5%

A total of 619,900 Georgian resident travellers took a trip outside of the country in the first quarter of 2020, which is 8.5 per cent lower compared to the same quarter of the previous year, show the latest data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

People aged 31-50 made for 44.7 per cent of outbound visitors. In terms of gender, women comprised 40.4 per cent of the total number of outbound visitors.

The most common destinations were Turkey (176,700 visits) and Azerbaijan (104,800 visits), followed by EU member states (15.2 per cent), Armenia (11.1 per cent), Russia (6.3 per cent) and Ukraine (0.8 per cent).

Georgian residents spent 332.8 million GEL (7.4 per cent decrease) while travelling abroad in the first quarter of 2020. The average expenditure of the visit amounted to 735.6 GEL (0.7 per cent decrease).

Georgians spent the highest amount of money on food and drinks, followed by shopping and accommodation.

Distribution of outbound visits by the main purpose of the visit in Q1 of 2020. Numbers in thousands. Image: Geostat.

Visiting friends and relatives was the most common reason for travel outside Georgia.

Distribution of outbound visits by the main purpose of the visit in Q1 of 2020. Numbers in thousands. Image: Geostat.

In the first quarter of 2020 the average number of nights spent during the outbound visits was 3.9 nights.

Meanwhile, 96.1 per cent of outbound visits were repeat visits, said Geostat.

More than a third of travellers – 39.6 per cent – were very satisfied with travelling abroad.

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*A traveller is someone who moves between different geographic locations, for any purpose and any duration.

**A Visitor is a traveller aged 15 or above, who travels outside his/her usual environment for less than a year for non-immigration and non-remunerative purposes excluding the following: employment, diplomatic or consular officers accredited abroad, Armed Forces servants and their dependants and persons who frequently cross borders.