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Tourist Traffic in Georgia Surpasses Four-Year High

Tourist Traffic in Georgia Surpasses Four-Year High

Georgia continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world with its rich culture, natural beauty, and renowned hospitality. In 2024, the country saw an increase in travelers from many nations, with Russia, Turkey, and Armenia leading the way, and significant growth noted in arrivals from Israel and China.



According to the National Tourism Administration, 7,368,149 international visits were recorded in 2024, reflecting a 4.2% increase compared to 2023.



Top Source Countries


Russia: Over 1.4 million visitors.
Turkey: More than 1.3 million.
Armenia: 948,299 arrivals.
Israel: 310,982 (+43.3% YoY).
Azerbaijan: 219,356 (+9.8% YoY).
China stood out in the top 15 countries, with an 83.4% surge in visits (48,304 to 88,583). India followed with a 46.8% increase to 124,335 visitors. Other notable gains included Uzbekistan (+23.4%), Saudi Arabia (+21%), and Germany (+14.3%).



Regional Trends


Europe: 5,255,806 visits (+1.5%).
Asia-Pacific: 487,176 (+33.6%).
Middle East: 218,985 (+21.7%).
Africa: Modest figures at 18,260 visits but a similar growth trend.


Among European nations, Germany led with 78,644 visits (+14.3%), followed by Poland (66,504, despite a decline). British interest in Georgia rose steadily, with 32,372 visits (+5.3%). France and Greece rounded out the top five, with increases of 20.2% and 21.3%, respectively.

Luxembourg saw the highest percentage increase (+95.1%), while Cyprus (+51.9%), Denmark (+47.8%), Belgium (+33.1%), and Sweden (+31.9%) also posted notable gains.



Demographics and Travel Modes


Most international tourists were aged 31-50 (3.1 million), followed by 51-70 (1.6 million) and 15-30 (1.5 million). Travelers over 71 accounted for 147,385 visits. Men dominated the visitor statistics, making up 3.9 million of the total, compared to 2.4 million women.



Ground crossings remained the most popular entry mode (3.9 million), though down 5.4%, likely due to expanded air travel options, which grew by 26.9% to 2.4 million arrivals.



Air Traffic Breaks Records


According to the Georgian Airports Association, passenger traffic surpassed 7.4 million in 2024, up 24% from 2023, with flights increasing by 25% to 31,937. For comparison, the 2023 figures were 5.9 million passengers and 25,600 flights.

Agreements with 10 airlines added 13 new routes in 2024, with British Airways and other carriers set to introduce flights connecting Georgia with London, Geneva, Milan, Paris, and Zurich in 2025.



The data highlights both an increase in visitor numbers and the diversification of source markets. Georgia maintains strong tourism potential, appealing to travelers from major nations and emerging markets alike. This growing influx positively impacts the economy and fosters the development of the hospitality industry.

By Tatiana Borodina