Q4 2019: Turkey, Azerbaijan are top destinations for Georgian travellers

A total of 890,500 Georgian resident travellers* took a trip outside of the country in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2019 with most of these trips being made to Turkey (263,200) and Azerbaijan (111,700), show the latest data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

The next most in demand destinations were EU member countries (15.2 per cent), Armenia (12 per cent), Russia (8.7 per cent) and Ukraine (1.1 per cent).

Distribution of outbound visits by the visited countries in Q4 of 2019. Image: Geostat.

Georgian residents spent 505.4 million GEL (about $178.90m/€165.26m) while travelling abroad in Q4 of 2019. The average expenditure of the visit amounted to 804 GEL (about $284.60/€262.90).

Georgians spent the highest amount of money on food and drinks (175 million GEL), followed by shopping (170 million GEL) and accommodation (90.7 million GEL).

People aged 31-50 were the most avid outbound visitors (45.9 per cent). In terms of gender, women comprised 41.9 per cent of the total number of visitors.

What were the top reasons for visiting other countries?

Visiting friends/relatives was the most common reason for travel outside Georgia, while the top reasons for visiting other countries included:

• Visiting friends/relatives – 223,500 visits (35.6%)
• Shopping – 199,800 visits (31.8%)
• Business – 111,900 visits (17.8%)
• Holiday/Leisure/Recreation – 68,100 visits (10.8%)
• Health and medical care – 13,900 visits (2.2%)
• Other – 11,400 visits (1.8%)

In Q4 of 2019 the average number of nights spent during the outbound visits was 3.8 nights.

Meanwhile, 95.5% of outbound visits were repeat visits, said Geostat.

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

*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.