The summer season is at its height in Georgia and the country is welcoming tourists from all over the world. Nowadays, however, Georgia is more than just a summer resort, thanks to the government agency for tourism. This body, headed by Maya Sidamonidze, has become a structure of state importance. It successfully implements government strategy aimed at attracting ever more tourists to the country.
According to recent data, the number of tourists visiting Georgia increases by 35-40 per cent every year. In 2012 the country is expected to be visited by 4 million people, which is equal to Georgia's population size. This is not rare, but the fact that Georgia is situated in one of the most unstable regions in the world, the Caucasus, makes the country's achievement seem really great.
Of course, statistics are a tricky business. People visiting Georgia often stay with friends or family members who live in the country, and cannot be called tourists in a real sense. That is why the government prefers to talk about visitors and not tourists.
In 2011 Georgia earned $1 billion through visitors. This figure is indeed great for the country's economy. The increase in Georgia's income in the sphere of tourism amounts to 40 per cent each year.
The number of Russians visiting Georgia is also increasing. In 2007 the country was visited by 91 thousand Russians, in 2008 (during the war) the figure was already 114 thousand. In 2009 the mumber of Russians spending time in Georgia reached 127 thousand and continues to increase. In 2011 278.5 thousand Russian people visited Georgia.
The fact seems striking, as the two countries have broken off diplomatic relations and imposed an unofficial embargo on each other.
Nevertheless, it's obvious that Georgia is interesting for Russian tourists. This can probably be explained by successful reforms, absence of corruption and Georgia's mysterious oriental image.
An important step has been taken by the Georgian authorities, who have unilaterally decided to abolish visa procedures for Russians. The effect of the measure is obvious - the number of Russians visiting Georgia simultaneously increased by several times. The first of them were greeted by President Mikheil Saakashvili.
With the help of local investors, a luxurious hotel and a casino were built in the Georgian border town of Kazbegi. It's now like Las Vegas, as gambling is prohibited in the Russian North Caucasus.
Russian tourists visit Georgia in spite of the Russian Foreign Ministry's recomendation not to travel to the country.
Nowadays, Russians travel to Georgia not only in summer. The country's officials are doing their best to strengthen this tendency. It now seems likely that someday the number of Russians visiting Georgia will reach 1 million people, as Minister Sidamonidze promises.
By Georgy Kalatozishvili. Exclusively to VK
