The growing number of Russian Tourists in Georgia

On May 15, GeoStat published a report on Inbound Tourism Statistics of the 1st quarter of 2019 . One of the most interesting finds of the report shows that the biggest increase was seen in the amount of Russian tourist, which increased by 24.3%, compared to the same time period from the last year.

Georgia is hardly a new destination for Russian tourists. Even during the Soviet times, Georgia was a popular holiday destination and the trend seems to be continuing.

The number of visitors from Russia reached 222.7 thousand. This number makes up for 21.4 percent of total number of visitors. The biggest number of visitors is still from the neighboring Azerbaijan, but the increase of Azerbaijani tourists compared to the 1st quarter of 2018 is only 3 percent.

But even without the official statistics, it is evident that Russians make up quite a large portion of tourists. There are countless video guides on YouTube from Russian creators presenting their experiences. There are also multiple number of videos showing the lifestyle of Russian people currently living in Georgia. This is just a part of the Russian presence in the country.

If you ask the average resident of Georgia, whether the Russian presence is fleeting or getting stronger, you will most likely get the answer that it’s getting weaker yearly. On the one hand, it’s difficult to disagree with this answer. Less and less people speak Russian as their second language; Georgian pop culture is mostly influenced by the Western media and there is a very little audience for Russian entertainment; the absolute majority of the population prefers the pro-Western politicians and foreign policies. However, the involvement of Russia and Russians in the everyday life seems to be pointing the other way.

This is why the sudden increase in the number of tourists coming to Georgia comes as quite a surprise. The relationship between Russia and Georgia has remained relatively the same throughout the last years, therefore, this rapid spike in Russian tourists can hardly be attributed to anything political. Not only are Russians making up large portion of the international tourists visiting Georgia yearly, but they are also heavily involved in other areas of the economy. Georgia is open to foreign investors and creates a friendly environment for anyone trying to start their own business here. Russians are seizing this opportunity by opening up their businesses and purchasing properties in Georgia, mostly in Tbilisi.

Another interesting number around this topic is that, compared to the visitors from other neighboring states, Russian tourists also spend the most money, GEL 1253 on average. It turns out that in 2018, Russian tourists spent about GEL 1.8 billion in Georgia.

All this points to just how dependable Georgia is on Russia and its money. Considering the political situation, as well as the historical experiences, it becomes clear that this sort of dynamic, despite its economic benefits, could entail problems.

Like other parts of the economy, Russian tourism is also vulnerable to political pressure. And Russia is no stranger to using all its powers to convey the desirable message.

Georgian tourism is definitely on the rise. More and more people from different countries are choosing to spend their holidays here. The country has also raised its standards to meet the international criteria and continues to improve in this direction. Georgia has the potential to become the preferred destination for people from all over the globe and should not limit itself only to its immediate neighbors, especially the ones known for bending the international laws.