Number of Tourists in Georgia's Mountain Resorts up by 25%

The Mountain Resorts Development Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia has closed the 2017/2018 mountain ski season on a positive note, comparing it to the 2016-2017 season, noting that the number of visitors in Georgia’s ski resorts increased by 25% this year.

The ministry reports that in Gudauri, Bakuriani, Svaneti and Goderdzi mountain resorts, the number of local and international tourists has significantly increased since 2011.

“The number of tourists increased by 491% at all ski resorts in 2017-2018 compared to the number of tourists during 2011-2012 season,” the ministry stated.

The statistics of the Mountain Resort Development Agency show that Georgia’s relatively new resorts have attracted more visitors this winter season, of which Goderdzi, on the slopes of the mountainous Adjara region, is the most popular.

In the Gudauri resort, 34,5997 visitors were observed in 2017/2018, which is 25% more than last year.

Bakuriani, in 2017-2018, saw visitor numbers increase by 15% compared to 2016/2017. A total of 13,2704 visitors spent time at the resort in the 2017/2018 season.

In mountainous Adjara, Goderdzi hosted guests for the third year. According to the winter ski season statistics of 2017/2018, the number of visitors there increased by 129% compared to last year. During the current season, 10,283 visitors chose to ski in the Goderdzi resort.

In Svaneti, the Tetnuldi ski resort hosted 122% more visitors this year than in 2016-17, while in Hatsvali, the number of visitors increased by 119%. Tetnuldi and Hatsvali hosted 35,890 visitors in all.

In 2017, Svaneti was upgraded with the Mestia-Hatsvali connecting ropeway, connecting Mestia's town center with the resort of Hatsvali. The ropeway became operational on December 23, 2017, leading to a significant increase in the number of visitors.

By Thea Morrison