Passenger traffic at Georgia’s airports in 2025 approached a record 8 million

Georgia’s airports reached a historic high in passenger traffic over the first 11 months of 2025, reports 1tv.ge, citing data from the Ministry of Economy. Growth was recorded both in the number of passengers and flights, with Batumi Airport showing the strongest momentum. The indicators exceed last year’s levels by double-digit rates and confirm the continued development of the aviation sector and the tourism industry.

Overall figures

From January to November 2025, Georgian airports handled 7,863,534 passengers, which is 14% more than in the same period of 2024 (6,908,493). As a result, total passenger traffic approached the 8 million mark, becoming the highest level ever recorded. Operational activity also increased. Over 11 months, 26,855 regular flights and 8,250 charter flights were operated, bringing the total number of flights to 35,105. This is 18% higher than last year’s figure (29,871).

Wizz Air remains the market leader by passenger numbers, transporting 1,309,716 people, or 17% of the market. Other major carriers include Georgian Airways with an 8% share, as well as Pegasus and Turkish Airlines, each accounting for about 7%. Air cargo transportation continues to be an additional driver of the sector, with volumes rising by 49% to 33,924,485 tonnes.

Tbilisi International Airport led in passenger traffic with 4,981,865 passengers, increasing traffic by 13%. Kutaisi Airport served 1,692,513 travelers (+7%). The highest growth rates were recorded in Batumi — up 30%, to 1,165,767 passengers.

Tourism development in Ajara

The capital of Ajara and the region as a whole are becoming increasingly popular, with indicators already exceeding post-pandemic recovery levels, note analysts at Galt & Taggart. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of overnight stays grew by 57.5%. Ajara is increasingly being chosen by tourists focused on longer stays.

In addition, tourism in Ajara is becoming less mono-format: seaside trips are increasingly combined with visits to ski resorts, gastronomic routes, and natural attractions. This broadens the consumption model and strengthens the resilience of the tourism sector.
Changes in the geography of tourist flows are also seen as a key shift. Whereas neighboring countries previously played the main role, recent years have seen growth in visits from Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

The role of alternative tourist destinations within the region is also increasing. Ecotourism is developing in the mountainous municipalities of Keda and Khulo, while wine-making and ethnographic clusters are emerging in the vicinity of Batumi, reducing the impact of seasonality.

Investments and hotel infrastructure

In 2025, Batumi confirmed its status as one of Europe’s most dynamic and versatile resorts, receiving the Europe’s Leading All-Season Destination award at the World Travel Awards ceremony held in Sardinia. The city outperformed competitors such as Budapest, Geneva, Munich, Oslo, Stockholm, and Tallinn, and was recognized for the seventh time by one of the most prestigious awards in the global tourism industry. This recognition reflects Batumi’s ability to operate as a year-round destination with well-developed cultural, business, and event infrastructure, combining a maritime climate, proximity to the mountains, a modern hotel base, and diverse gastronomy.

Rapid tourism growth has triggered a wave of investment in hotel and transport infrastructure. Batumi is seeing the expansion of apartment developments and boutique hotels, while international hotel brands are entering the market. One of the largest projects is being implemented in the resort area of Gonio — the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex belongs to the luxury segment and is managed by the reputable international network Aimbridge Hospitality. There are only 85 Wyndham Grand hotels in this segment worldwide. Of these, just two operate in the All Inclusive and Ultra All Inclusive formats; the Georgian project will become the third, offering a Premium All Inclusive format.

Such accommodation formats are attractive to high-net-worth tourists and at the same time of interest to investors due to a guaranteed yield of 10% per annum in US dollars and growth potential of up to 19%.



Analysts at International Investment note that Ajara and Georgia as a whole have already moved beyond the model of an exclusively beach-oriented resort. A strategy of tourism diversification is being actively implemented, while growing flows of foreign travelers and infrastructure development are laying the groundwork for the sector’s long-term sustainable growth.