Georgian Minister for Economic Development Vera Kobalia reported on her ministry's activities in 2011 and plans for 2012, Business Georgia reports.
The ministry said that Georgia had 2,541,223 visitors in 11 months and the figure is expected to reach 2.7 million by the end of the year. 3 million tourists were expected in 2011. Hotels operated at a 90-95% load. The number of visitors in January-November 2011 increased by 40%, compared with the number in the same period in 2010. 60% of visitors arrived in Tbilisi, 43% to Batumi and 8% to Mtskhet.
Most tourists arrived from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran and Ukraine. Israel, the US, Germany and Kazakhstan are among the top 10 visitors.
Georgia took part in international exhibition markets, press projects and tours. The Ministry for Economic Development realized advertising on the inner and foreign markets, formed new tourism products and promoted them.
Georgia had the world’s third highest GDP growth rate in 2011, after Turkey and Estonia. GDP increased by 6.5%.
Kobalia reported that the ministry overfulfilled the privatization plan for 2011, selling 1267 facilities, exceeding figures in 2010 by 381.7%. The privatization budget totaled $114.5 million, exceeding the planned sum by $12.3 million.
The ministry is planning to realize major projects. This includes transport reforms, development of airlines, attraction of businessmen and tourists. The problem of certification of sailors and the naval reform are to be realized, Vera Kobalia says.
