Number of Tourists Drops in Georgia Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
Georgia’s National Tourism Administration (GNTA) has released the latest tourism statistics in the country, saying the total number of arrivals to Georgia in February 2020 decreased by 0.7%.
The information reads that last month, 466,409 people visited Georgia. The number of visits by international visitors, defined as visits by people who are over the age of 15 and travel for less than one year, came to 386,859 which is 0.6% less compared to February 2019. Of the visits of international visitors, 257,547 visits were tourists, which is 4% less than in the same period last year.
However, in January-February 2020, the number of arrivals by international travelers amounted to 1,099,610. which is a 10.2% increase, while the number of visits by international visitors amounted to 910,548, a 10.2% increase. In the same period, the number of tourist visits were 67,517, which is 12.2% more compared to the same period of last year.
The National Tourism Administration says there were 951 visits from China to Georgia in February, a decline of 59.5% compared to the same period last year. Also, during January-February, there were 4002 visits from China to Georgia, a decrease of 2.2%.
Regarding the other countries, last month visits by international visitors increased from Azerbaijan by 12.8% and Turkey by 3.8%. However, visits from Armenia and Russia dropped by 18.2% and 25% respectively.
Despite the decrease in the total number of visitors, visitors increased in February from some EU countries: Estonia 161.5%, Poland 84.8%, Italy 81.2%, France 52.4 and Germany 38%.
From non-EU countries, increased visits were recorded from Kuwait 58.5%, Belarus 52.3%, Israel 39.5%, USA 29.1% and Saudi Arabia 17.7%.
The total damage which the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), a respiratory illness affecting 104 countries and territories around the world, inflicted on Georgian economy is as yet unknown, but as Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava stated in late February, it will be at least GEL 30 million per month (about $10.79m) as Georgia stopped flights with China, Iran and recently even with Italy.
Turnava said this weekend that the government will do its best to help the tourism sector overcome the challenges.
"We have agreed on one thing with the tourism sector: that Georgia is a safe and healthy tourist market. This is a key message and we will all talk about it," she noted.
The Minister said it is important that representatives of the tourism sector support the authorities in protecting the country from coronavirus through preventive measures, even if they impose certain restriction on travel.
“The tourism industry encourages us, and we agree that Georgia is exemplary in many ways in terms of our security and epidemiological security,” she said.
Turnava emphasized that Georgia is a safe country for tourists.
“This is the way our country is positioned today: it is a well-known fact that it is safe for both citizens and tourists, even in the times of coronavirus,” the Minister said.
To note, the Georgian government has imposed restrictions on crossing the state border for both local and foreign citizens. The government established that citizens are obliged to present a PCR certificate on COVID -19 when crossing the border.
The decision was announced at the meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council against Coronavirus on Friday and reads that upon entering Georgia, a citizen of Georgia, or any foreigner traveling from countries with a high risk of Coronavirus outbreak, is obliged to undergo an intensive check-up at the border crossing point and a mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure.
"At the border, they are obliged to present a PCR certificate on Coronavirus (COVID -19), issued by the relevant laboratory of the country of departure, and in the case of transit, by the relevant laboratory of the transit country,” the Government Administration said in the statement.
By Tea Mariamidze
Image source: visitgeorgia.ge