Tourism

About the size of Switzerland, Georgia has always been an important tourist destination for adventurers, for lovers of art, wine, the distinct Caucasus cuisine, breath-taking traditional dance and unique polyphonic male choirs.

Georgia is able to boast the highest mountains in Europe, truly fabulous walks, more indigenous grape varieties than anywhere else and architectural marvels – stone watch-towers in the mountains and carved wooden balconies, richly frescoed churches and art nouveau in the towns. Combine this with a Mediterranean climate and the legendary Georgian hospitality and you have a unique travel destination.

There are over 12,000 historical and cultural monuments in Georgia, four listed by UNESCO as cultural heritage sites, 103 resorts, 182 resort places and more than 2000 mineral springs in Georgia which encompass ski and snow, spa and health and sea. With a new visa policy and improving infrastructure, combined with a new, firm commitment to safety, Georgia is ready to welcome investors, travelers and explorers.

International tourist arrivals

• International tourist arrivals reached an all-time record of 1, 290107 in 2008 and the total number of international visitors, crossing national borders of Georgia, has been increased by 18% compared to 2007.
• According to a new Tax Code, which went into effect in January 2005, tour operators’ incoming tourist revenue is considered as export and is free of VAT.
• The new modern international airports in Tbilisi and Batumi were completed in 2006, with direct flights to 32 cities, approved for full membership in ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference).
• Basic Infrastructure (roads and highways, energy systems and water supply systems) is now developing rapidly and the results are visible to any traveler to Georgia.
• New roads are being built throughout Georgia. The modern highway which will cross the country is being inaugurating in 2012.
• Simplification of Visa Issuing Procedures -There is no visa requirement for: Nationals of Israel, Japan, Canada, United States of America and members of European Union countries. For CIS nationals except of the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan do not require a visa. All these nationals are allowed to stay for 90 days. Passengers on cruise ships who stay in Georgia for less than 72 hours do not require visas either.

 

All over the post Soviet countries Tbilisi will be one of the first cities where will be represented all the most famous hotels:

 

 

For these days major Key Players in the Hotel Sector are: