Georgia’s summer season has begun, but with a significant number of visitors missing – Israelis. Due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Israelis are less willing or able to travel internationally. This drop in numbers is being felt in Georgia, which typically attracts many tourists from Israel. Levan Giorgadze of Tbilisi Free Walking Tours notes that compared to previous years, there has been a noticeable decrease in Israeli tourists, although they still visit in smaller numbers. The impact of this decline on Georgia’s tourism industry is significant, as the capital city of Tbilisi and the Black Sea coast are popular destinations for visitors.
Shota Burjanadze, Chairman of the Georgian Restaurateurs Association, has expressed concerns about the decrease in bookings and projections for new bookings are very low for the upcoming season. This has led to worries that the year may not meet expectations for tourism in Georgia. However, Maia Omiadze, Head of Georgia’s Tourist Association, remains optimistic about the summer season. She points out that data from the first quarter of 2024 was positive, indicating that the tourism industry may see positive results throughout the year. Omiadze expects tourists mainly from neighbouring countries, Persian Gulf nations, and the European Union to visit Georgia during the summer, with European countries accounting for 5% of the total number of visitors.
The top three countries sending the most visitors to Georgia based on Office for National Statistics data for the first quarter of 2024 are neighbouring countries, Turkey, Armenia, and Russia. Despite the challenges faced by the absence of Israeli tourists, other nations are still contributing to Georgia’s tourism industry. While some restaurateurs express concerns about the impact of lower bookings, others remain hopeful that the summer season will be bustling and successful. The tourism industry in Georgia is diverse, attracting visitors from various regions and countries such as Asia, the Persian Gulf, and Europe.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has had significant implications for international travel and tourism. With Israelis less inclined to travel abroad, popular destinations like Georgia are seeing a decrease in tourist numbers. This decline in Israeli visitors has raised concerns among Georgia’s tourism industry professionals, who are reporting cancelled bookings and low projections for new bookings. Despite these challenges, there is optimism for the summer season, with expectations of a busy and successful period fueled by visitors from neighbouring countries and other regions like the Persian Gulf and the European Union.
While the absence of Israeli tourists has impacted Georgia’s tourism industry, other nations continue to contribute to the country’s visitor numbers. The data from Georgia’s tourism industry for the first quarter of 2024 shows that neighbouring countries like Turkey, Armenia, and Russia remain the top sources of visitors. This diversity in tourist sources provides some resilience for Georgia’s tourism sector, as restaurateurs and industry professionals navigate challenges and uncertainties in the current climate. The outlook for the summer season remains positive, with hopes for a successful period ahead and a rebound in tourist numbers as the year progresses.
Overall, Georgia’s tourism industry is facing challenges due to the absence of Israeli visitors caused by the ongoing conflict in the region. Despite the concerns raised by restaurateurs about cancelled bookings and low projections, the Head of Georgia’s Tourist Association remains optimistic about the summer season. With data showing positive results from the first quarter of 2024 and expectations of high tourist numbers from neighbouring countries and other regions, there is hope for a successful tourism season ahead. As the industry adapts to changing circumstances and focuses on attracting visitors from a diverse range of countries, Georgia’s tourism sector is poised for recovery and growth in the coming months.
