Increased tourist numbers from EU, Israel, Gulf states “important” - Deputy Economy Minister

Mariam Kvrivishvili, the Deputy Economy Minister of Georgia, on Tuesday said it was “important” to see increasing numbers of visitors from the European Union, Israel and Gulf states over the first six months of this year.

In her press comments, the official credited the “correct policies” of the Government with the figures and said they had led to international tourism revenue reaching a “record-high” $1.8 billion between January and June. 

She added her body had been engaged in “active promotional campaigns” and other “significant projects” to raise the awareness of the country’s tourism potential internationally and ensure additional direct flights with “strategically important” countries, which she said would further increase inflow of tourists in Georgia. 

Maia Omiadze, the head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, on Monday said the $1.8 billion in incomes from international tourism in the reported period meant an almost 124 percent recovery compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019, and a 57.9 percent increase compared to the data of the first six months of 2022. 

Speaking about income from international tourism in the second quarter of this year, Omiadze said revenues had exceeded one billion dollars and marked a 115 percent recovery compared to the same period in 2019. 

She also said tourism income in the second quarter of this year had increased by more than $260 million, marking an almost 35 percent increase on the same period of 2022.