The pleasant tendency of the past years goes on in 2016 too and Georgia is hosting more and more foreign tourists every year.

 

Tourism is one of the fields, if not only one, that has been growing over the past 10 years in constant regime. This year the tourism inflows made a new record. In January-July 2016 the quantity of international tourists made up 3 400 335, up 10.6% compared to the same period of 2015.

 

According to the National Tourism Administration, this is an unprecedented figure. The quantity of tourism visits made up 1 401 914 (visitors who spent 24 hours and more in Georgia), up 208 436 compared to the same period of 2015 (growth +17.5%). in January-July 2016 a major inflow of tourists was recorded from Azerbaijan (+15.1%), Turkey (+1.6%), Armenia (-0.8%), Russia (+10.3%) and Ukraine (+24.3%).

 

Positive tendency is maintained in the direction of EU countries too, including Slovakia (+32.8%), Latvia (+25.1%), Hungary (+21.4%), Czech Republic (+19.5%) and Italy (+16.5%). Particular growth was registered from the following countries: Jordan (+472%), Iran (+457%), Pakistan (+455%), India (+347%), Sri Lanka (+239%), Syria (+190%), Philippines (+186%), Egypt (+176%) and Oman (+163%).

 

As to July 2016, a total of 764 022 international visitors arrived in Georgia, up 26 124 ones compared to the same period of 2015 (+3.5%). The number of tourists made up 390 234 ones, up 53 368 compared to July 2015 (+15.8%).

 

“Positive tendency is maintained in relation to the EU countries too, including Germany (+18%), Lithuania (+17%), Greece (+14%) and the United Kingdom (+12%). Particular growth was recorded from the following countries: Iran (+575%), Syria (+453%), India (+368%), Egypt (+263%) and Saudi Arabia (+112%)”, the tourism administration reports.

 

It should be noted that the developments in Turkey, several acts of terrorism and coup attempt considerably damaged Georgia too, because instable situation in the region made many visitors cancel ordered flights. The coup attempt of July 15 tensed political situation in the Region. Because of political tensions and border restrictions, a part of international visitors suspended their visits to the Region, including to Georgia. As a result, Georgia lost roughly 30 000 international visitors in July 2016, Giorgi Chogovadze, head of the national tourism administration, said.

 

Despite instable situation in the region, as noted above, more than 3.4 million foreign citizens visited Georgia in January-July 2016, up 11% compared to the previous year. Due to the countries, the region’s countries occupy leading places. The number of visitors particularly increased from Iran after Georgia removed visa regime regulations. Moreover, the  tourist inflows is also growing from Israel.

Ten countries  from where a major number of visitors arrived in Georgia in January-July 2016:

Azerbaijan – 0.85 million (+15%);

Turkey – 0.77 million (+1.5%);

Armenia – 0.71 million (-0.8%);

Russia – 0.53 million (+10.3%)

Ukraine – 92 000 (+24.3%);

Iran – 61 000 (+82%);

Israel – 46 000 (+69%);

Kazakhstan – 27 000 (+35%);

Poland – 23 000 (+5%)

Germany – 20 000 (+4%).

As to financial revenues, according to the national tourism administration’s final report, revenues from international tourism made up 1.94 billion USD (+8.3%), up 149 million USD compared to the previous year’s indicators.

 

According to the first quarter of 2016, revenues from foreign tourism made up 354.5 million USD (+15.7%), up 48 million USD compared to the same period of 2015.

 

It should be also noted that over the past years, the tourism sector has grown into one of the leading fields of the Georgian economy. For example, the tourism sector’s ratio in total GDP made up 6.7%, under the 2015 final indicators, up 16.2% compared to 2014. In the first quarter of 2016 the tourism sector ratio in total GDP made up 6.8%. The year on year growth marked +11.5%.

 

It is interesting that over the past 10 years the tourism sector growth pace exceeded 10% in most cases. In 2012 the inflow of international visitors increased by 56%. In 2013 the tourism sector upturn made up 21%, 2014 – 2.3%, 2015 – 7%. And in January-July 2016 the tourism sector growth returned to two-digit figure – 11%.

Source:commersant.ge