The number of international travelers increased by 125.9% in October 2022, compared to the same period of 2021, and declined by 36.3% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors increased by 115.2% (2022/2021) and declined by 33.4% (2022/2019), and the number of international tourists increased by 82.6% (2022/2021) and declined by 21.5% (2022/2019).
In October 2022, the top countries of origin of international visits were Russia (109 158 visits), Turkey (81 033 visits), and Armenia (72 877 visits). Among the major tourism markets, the number of international visits from Belarus (121.8%), Saudi Arabia (66.6%), and Thailand (43.9%) significantly exceeded the pre-pandemic figure (October 2019). Besides, the number of international visits from Turkey (-6.6%) and Russia (-7.7%) has almost returned to the pre-pandemic figure.
INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC VISITS TO NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
Adventure tourism is among the value chains of the Georgian tourism sector. In this branch of tourism, activities often include visits to national parks, Protected Areas (PAs), and other natural attractions. Therefore, analyzing the dynamics of visits to the PAs of Georgia throughout recent years is valuable.
Generally, the number of international visits that include visits to national parks, natural attractions, and landscapes, as well as those exploring remote and exotic places is considerably higher compared to the respective number of domestic visits. For instance, in 2019, 16.2% of international visits included visits to natural attractions, while the corresponding figure for domestic visitors was 3.6%.
In 2022, visits by international visitors to natural attractions in Georgia amounted to 49% in Q1 of 2022, compared to the respective pre-pandemic (Q1 of 2019) figure, while in Q2 of 2022 it equated to 62% of the corresponding pre-pandemic figure (Q2 of 2019). Domestic visits also amounted to half of the corresponding pre-pandemic value (53%) in Q1 of 2022, however in Q2 of 2022 the number of domestic visits exceeded the pre-pandemic (Q2 of 2019) figure by 54%.
VISITOR DYNAMICS OF PROTECTED AREAS OF GEORGIA
Based on the data provided by the Agency of Protected Areas, the number of visitors to Protected Areas in Georgia was showing a clear upward trend prior to the pandemic. From 2016 to 2019, the average growth rate of visitors was 24%, followed by a YoY drop of 80% in 2020, compared to 2019.
However, in 2021, the number of visitors recovered to 49% of the pre-pandemic (2019) value. In 2022, the recovery intensified and in the first nine months of 2022, it exceeded the yearly number of visitors in the previous year and recovered to 66% of the total number of visits in 2019.
In the first nine months of 2022, most of the international visitors to Protected Areas were from Russia (83 286 visitors), Belarus (48 422), United Arab Emirates (40 307), Kazakhstan (37 180), and Saudi Arabia (34 817). Meanwhile, before the pandemic, in 2019, Russia was followed by Israel, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine as the main countries of origin for international visitors to Protected Areas.
In the first nine months of 2022, the highest number of visitors was recorded in Martvili Canyon, followed by Prometheus Cave, Tsalka Canyon, and Sataplia Cave. Meanwhile, Pshav-Khevsureti National Park (1 205), Machakhela National Park (661), Mariamjvari Protected Areas (161), and Ajameti Managed Reserve (4) were the least visited.
HOTEL PRICE INDEX IN GEORGIA
In October 2022, in Georgia the hotel price index6 decreased by 7.6% compared to September 2022. The 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 9.2%, while for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 7.7%. The monthly HPI was the highest in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti (2.0%) and the lowest in Adjara (-19.9%) and Shida Kartli (-14.6%).
In October 2022, compared to October 2021, hotel prices in Georgia increased by 13.2%. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels increased by 9.7% and the prices of guesthouses increased by 40.3%. The yearly HPI was the highest in Shida Kartli (51.1%) and Guria (26.5%) and the lowest in Kvemo Kartli (4.9%).
THE AVERAGE HOTEL PRICES IN GEORGIA
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 163 GEL per night in October 2022, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 255 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 121 GEL per night.
The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in october 2022 was 428 GEL per night. In Kakheti, the average price was 570 GEL, followed by Tbilisi – 564, Guria – 531, and Adjara – 378.
