Georgian Economy Minister holds talks with Chinese airlines to expand flight connections

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili has met with top executives of the Chinese-based Hainan Airlines, Capital Airlines and Sichuan Airlines during his working visit to Beijing to discuss possibilities of expanding flight connections between the two countries, the Ministry said on Friday.

Davitashvili emphasised Georgia had become a popular destination in the tourism industry, leading to growth in civil aviation. He added over 60 airlines were offering more than 100 regular flights to over 30 countries worldwide.

The Minister mentioned China Southern Airlines operated daily flights on the Tbilisi-Ürümqi route, adding Air China was planning to enter the Georgian market, introducing with Beijing-Tbilisi flights, in the near future.

Expressing the Government’s interest in expanding flight connections with “other Chinese cities”, Davitashvili said this would further enhance bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. He attributed the rise in Chinese tourists visiting Georgia to the introduction of visa-free travel and the increased frequency of direct flights.

The number of visitors from China surged by 555 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year and has risen by 423 percent in the first two quarters of 2024, the Ministry said.

Davitashvili also announced plans to organise “large-scale tourism activities in various Chinese cities” to bolster the country's reputation as a “favoured” tourist destination.