Domestic tourism begins in Georgia
The majority of the visits came from Tbilisi (average 286,900 visits per month) and Imereti region (208,000 visits per month). Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Domestic tourism resumes today in Georgia, while the country will open its doors to international tourists on July 1.
Railway travel also resumes today. Georgian Railway officials say the company is ready to ensure the safe transportation of passengers and to implement the regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health of Georgia.
The statistics published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) said that 51 per cent of 992,900 domestic travellers visited friends and relatives in 2019 when travelling inside their home country.
The majority of the visits came from Tbilisi (average 286,900 visits per month) and Imereti region (208,000 visits per month).
Overall 992,900 Georgian resident visitors aged 15 years and older made on average 1.2 million visits per month on the territory of Georgia in 2019. The number of visitors increased by 8.6 per cent year-on-year.
In the reporting period the monthly average number of tourist visits of Georgian residents amounted to 530,700, which is 10.3 per cent higher compared to 2018.
In 2019 the monthly average expenditure during the visits equalled 153.5 million GEL. This is six per cent higher than in 2018. As for the average expenditure per visit decreased by 3 GEL and equalled 129.3 GEL.
The opening day of domestic tourism is approaching and soon Georgians will be able to seek out ways to explore the beauty of their home country.
The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has published recommendations for airports, airline companies and passengers about how to carry out flights during the coronavirus pandemic.
Georgia is opening its airspace to international flights starting July 1 and the international airports of the country are making preparations to receive tourists and to ensure their services will be in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Georgia.
Domestic tourism starting June 15, int’l tourism from July 1
Georgia is setting the goal of becoming the first country to open its doors to foreign tourists starting July 1 after months of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and to welcome international travellers with a new image - 'Georgia - Safe Destination!'. Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said that Georgia will be promoted as a safe destination for international travellers, as an internationally acclaimed and successful country in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals will be fined 20 GEL (about $6.6/€5.8) for not wearing face masks in closed public areas, public transport and taxis starting today.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zaklaliani has spoken with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to discuss relations between the countries amid the coronavirus including the resumption of flights between Georgia and Germany.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has hosted members of the diplomatic corps at Lopota Lake in the Kakheti region earlier today, where he spoke about the coronavirus crisis, the country’s plans to reboot the economy, how to proceed with the October elections and other intentions.Gakharia noted domestic tourism has resumed today in Georgia and that ‘Kakheti is lucky as Georgia’s best friends, foreign ambassadors, are visiting the region as tourists.’
The European Commission recommends Schengen Member States and the Schengen Associated States to lift internal border controls by June 15, 2020 and to prolong temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU until June 30, 2020, however, Georgia was promised to be one of the first countries to which the EU borders will be opened.
With various sectors of economic activity reopening in Georgia following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Interagency Coordination Council has decided to reopen museums and museum reserves starting June 20 in Georgia, announced the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia.
With the reopening of domestic tourism in Georgia the government has decided to allow open-air seminars, trainings and outdoor adventure activities, such as rafting, kayaking, canyoning and all kinds of land and air adventures Georgia has to offer.
Georgia is following international trends in travel and will soon decide what to do in terms of international tourism, taking into account the need to maintain a low infection rate in the country. Opening up international tourism was one of the main issues the government discussed at the Inter-agency Coordination Council meeting earlier today.
Regular international flights will not resume in Georgia until August 1, announces the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency. The Civil Aviation Agency calls on citizens not to buy tickets until the exact date of the resumption of international flights is not announced by 'official sources'. Earlier today the Economy Minister of Georgia Natia Turnava announced that the ban on regular flights may be extended until the end of July.
Georgia is on a draft list of countries that will be allowed to enter the European Union starting July 1 when the bloc's international borders are scheduled to open, reports Euronews.
Exhibitions, training and conferences may be allowed from July 6 in Georgia, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has stated earlier today.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said the EU’s decision to include Georgia in the list of ‘green countries’ is ‘yet more proof’ of close partnership. Calling it an ‘important achievement’ Gakharia said 'it is the recognition of the success' of Georgia, Georgian people and its government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents and tourists of Tbilisi can now enjoy a trip by air balloon in Rike Park starting July 9.
The Georgian Ministry of Health has issued a series of coronavirus regulations for gyms and fitness centres to reopen today. Gyms were closed in mid-March 2020 in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The government of Georgia is launching a new state programme 'Travel for Georgia' to promote domestic tourism, announced Georgian Prime MInister Giorgi Gakharia at today's government meeting.
Georgia’s winter wonderlands are being transformed into a go-to summer destination, inviting visitors to cool summer days in fresh air and green surroundings.
A new online platform aiming to support local tourist businesses in Tbilisi and help visitors find services has been launched by the Tbilisi City Hall to boost post-pandemic recovery.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has visited a German settlement in the village of Asureti and Dashbashi Canyon in Kvemo Kartli region earlier today to promote domestic tourism and new state programme 'Travel for Georgia'.
After a four-month shutdown, domestic flights will resume in Georgia starting July 24, announces United Airports of Georgia.
About 596,500 Georgian tourists aged 15 years or more made 675,700 visits (-37.2%) within Georgia in the second quarter of 2020.
Georgia expects 10.5 million international visitors in 2024 and $6 billion in earnings from the tourism sector in 2024, said Head of the Georgian Tourism Administration Mariam Kvrivishvili.
About 1.14 million Georgian resident visitors aged 15 years and older made on average 1.31 million trips on the territory of Georgia in the third quarter of 2020, says the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
About 910,800 Georgian tourists aged 15 years or more made one million visits (-37.2%) within Georgia in 2020. The number of visitors has decreased by 8.3% year-on-year, says the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
About 1.09 million Georgian resident visitors aged 15 years or more made 1. 23 million visits within Georgia per month in the first quarter of 2021, show the latest data published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
Following the growth of tourist flows to the Georgian regions of Svaneti and Adjara, United Airports of Georgia has decided to increase the frequency of domestic lights in July and August. Flights along the route of Natakhtari-Mestia-Natakhtari and Tbilisi-Batumi-Tbilisi will increase.