Tbilisi: Mariam Kvrivishvili, the Deputy Economy Minister, on Friday claimed that 1.3 million international travelers visited the country in the first quarter of the current year. She also said that this high footfall of tourists generated revenue of over $800 million.
Speaking specifically, Kvrivishvili said the country’s domestic tourism industry has fully recovered from the shock of Covid-19. Moreover the current trend has increased tourist inflow by 40 percent. She also noted the “positive dynamic” in terms of flights through the country’s western Kutaisi International Airport.
As per the minister the Tbilisi International Airport in the capital had served more than 337,000 passengers. This is a 21 percent increase compared to last year’s figures for the visitors. Moreover this year we were able to bring many international companies to the air market of Georgia including European airlines, Austrian and Dutch. The entry of international airlines in the Georgian airports also proved fruitful for the huge travel market.
On the capacity of the flight she said it had been increased to 640 direct flights weekly which is again more than 15 percent more than last year. It is to be adeed that the Georgia will host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s World Tourism Day in September which will attended by a large number of international delegates and media visiting the country.
She stressed with the cooperation of the private sector we can unlock the country’s huge tourism potential and added that more measures will be taken to attract international direct flights to the country. She advised and warned the opposition parties not to spread rumors and misinformation about the country’s tourism sector. Misinformation by the opposition and people with vested interests can badly affect the country’s tourism industry.
The Minister expressed confidence that our small and medium-sized entrepreneurs will host many tourists this year. This inflow of international tourists will create new jobs and the tourism industry will make a significant contribution to strengthening the national economy in the future.
