Georgian PM says tourism, airline industry two of “most important areas” for country's development
Kobakhidze told lawmakers the country had received revenues of $ 808 million from tourism in the first quarter of the year, marking a 40 percent increase over pre-pandemic figures. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said tourism and airline industries were two of the “most important areas” for the country's development in his annual report to the Parliament.
Kobakhidze told lawmakers the country had received revenues of $ 808 million from tourism in the first quarter of the year, marking a 40 percent increase over pre-pandemic figures.
He also cited the number of 1.3 million international travelers, including 929,000 tourists, being hosted in the first quarter of the year, calling it a “historic record” and adding the “positive trends should be maintained and strengthened”.
During the summer season, 13,600 flights will be carried out, which is also the highest figure in history. Today, 50 airlines operate in Georgia, while before 2012 there were 23 airlines. Only last year, nine new airlines entered the [domestic] market and perform flights in different directions”, he told MPs.
“With Europe specifically, 11 airlines operate flights to 38 destinations. This is also a historic maximum. More than 1,400,000 passengers have used the airports, which is also a historic maximum. This year, we expect $ 4.5 billion in revenues from tourism. This will be the maximum rate. We expect 7.9 million international travellers and 5.2 million tourists this year. This will also be a historic maximum”, he said.
He also highlighted the project for the construction of a new international airport near Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi, designed to serve 18 million passengers. Kobakhidze told the legislative body airports were “of great importance” for the development of the country's transit function.
He told lawmakers the capacity of the current Tbilisi airport was four million passengers, while the new venue would offer the much higher fixture, adding studies had indicated that expansion of airport capacity was “extremely important”, with the goal set to be served by the “mega-project”.
The PM also highlighted new projects for Telavi and Mestia airports in the country’s east and north-west.
The Asian Development Bank has issued a tender for developing a general development plan for the new Tbilisi International Airport, the United Airports of Georgia said on Monday.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili on Monday expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations involving the United Kingdom Ambassador Mark Clayton about initiation of direct flights between the two countries.
The Georgian National Tourism Administration on Tuesday announced the launch of a new project to develop souvenirs as a tourist product for the country, with its Head Maia Omiadze meeting with industry professionals to introduce the project earlier today.
The Parliament of Georgia on Thursday endorsed an air traffic agreement between the governments of Georgia and Oman, the legislative body said on Thursday.