Georgia posts record $4.1 bln tourism revenue in 2023

TBILISI. Feb 12 (Interfax) - Georgia recorded an all-time high of $4.1 billion in tourism revenue in 2023, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Maia Omiadze told reporters on Monday.

"Georgia had unprecedented revenue over $4 billion in 2023, up 26% from 2019. This is the first time in the history of Georgia that tourism revenue has been so large," Omiadze said.

The pre-pandemic 2019 level of tourist arrivals was almost fully regained last year, she said.

The Georgian National Tourism Administration reported on Monday that international tourism revenue exceeded the 2019 level ($856.7 million) by 26.2% and the 2022 level ($608.7 million) by 17.3% in 2023. It also said that Georgia earned a record $4.1 billion from tourism last year.

According to the administration, tourism revenue stood at $873.677 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, up 27.4% from 2019.

The number of tourists grew considerably last year, in addition to the rise in revenue, the administration said. In particular, Georgia saw 7,072,220 international travelers, 75.6% more than in the pre-pandemic period and 30.3% more than in 2022.

"Last year, Georgia recorded 4,669,467 international tourist arrivals, or 91.9% more than in 2019, while growth compared to 2022 reached 27.8%. In October-December 2023, Georgia received 1,505,240 international travelers, or 71% more than it did before the pandemic," the administration said.

Georgia registered 1,013,891 international tourist arrivals in the fourth quarter of 2023, or 93% more than in 2019, it said.