Category: News

International tourist arrivals in Georgia will grow at low single-digit rates in 2026, according to a new forecast from investment company Galt&Taggart.

Regional Tensions and Travel Costs

Analysts say the Israel-Iran conflict will likely affect tourism in the first half of 2026. The situation has already pushed up airfare prices on several regional routes. Higher flight costs may discourage some long-haul travelers from visiting the South Caucasus.

Positive Drivers Remain Strong

Despite these headwinds, several factors support continued growth in Georgia’s tourism sector. Land border crossings from neighboring countries are rising. Air connectivity from China, the European Union, and Russia is expanding. These trends will help sustain overall visitor numbers throughout the year.

The potential resumption of rail service with Azerbaijan also presents new opportunities. Restored train links could attract more regional travelers and tour groups seeking affordable, scenic transportation options.

First Quarter Data Shows Mixed Signals

Georgia’s National Tourism Administration reported 1.3 million international visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2026. This figure represents a 1.1% decline compared to the same period in 2025. However, the number of trips classified as “tourist visits” reached a record 1 million, up 4% year-over-year.

Tourism revenue in Q1 2026 grew 0.5% to a record $829.8 million. This suggests that while fewer people visited, those who came tended to spend more.

Full-Year Revenue Outlook

Galt&Taggart now projects total tourism revenue of $4.9 billion for 2026. This revises down an earlier forecast of $5 billion. The adjustment reflects assumptions that regional tensions will remain limited in duration and scope.

For context, Georgia earned approximately $4.7 billion from international travelers in 2025, a 5.9% increase over 2024. Russian visitors contributed the largest share of spending that year, at $697.3 million.

Broader Context and Industry Outlook

Georgia has positioned itself as a year-round destination, promoting winter sports in Gudauri and Bakuriani alongside summer offerings on the Black Sea coast and in historic regions like Kakheti and Svaneti. The government has also simplified visa rules for citizens of dozens of countries to encourage longer stays.

Industry observers note that diversification of source markets remains a strategic priority. While Russia and neighboring countries drive significant volume, growth from China, India, and Gulf states could reduce exposure to regional volatility.

Hotel development continues in Tbilisi, Batumi, and emerging destinations. New properties and upgraded infrastructure should help accommodate rising demand, provided global economic conditions remain stable.

What to Watch Next

Travelers and investors should monitor three key developments: the evolution of regional security dynamics, progress on cross-border transport projects, and airline capacity decisions for the summer and winter seasons. Georgia’s ability to adapt its tourism offering and marketing strategy will shape performance in the second half of 2026 and beyond.

For the latest travel advisories, entry requirements, and flight schedules, visitors should consult official government sources and airline websites.

The historic Borjomi–Bakuriani train, the so-called “Kukushka,” will undergo a full rehabilitation.

“We have made a decision to rehabilitate the historic Borjomi–Bakuriani train, known as ‘Kukushka’. This is part of our broader plan,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at a government meeting.

He also said that the Tbilisi–Kutaisi and Tbilisi–Akhaltsikhe routes will join the railway network.

“The Tbilisi–Kutaisi route will join the railway network. We will complete the rehabilitation of the Tbilisi–Batumi railway in August. This will reduce travel time from five and a half hours to four hours.

We will also complete the rehabilitation of the Tbilisi–Akhaltsikhe railway in August. This will restore the service canceled in 2009. Travel time will drop from six hours to three hours. In other words, the journey will take half as long.

We have also decided to rehabilitate the historic Borjomi–Bakuriani train, the so-called ‘Kukushka’. We will fully upgrade both the train and the railway infrastructure. We will also renovate five railway stations. The line has remained suspended since 2020. According to the plan, the train will resume service for citizens and visitors next January. This project is also very important for tourism,” the Prime Minister noted.

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinti and Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, was buried in Sioni Cathedral on the fifth day of national mourning.

Throughout this time, entertainment events were canceled across the country, and people streamed to the coffin of the head of the Church in a continuous, round-the-clock procession.

Ilia II passed away on March 17 at the age of 93, as a result of massive internal bleeding. For nearly five decades, he led the Georgian Orthodox Church, managing to revive church life after the Soviet period and embodying stability by the very fact of his existence against the backdrop of geopolitical upheavals. He reigned during the era of stagnation, perestroika, the collapse of the USSR, the attainment of independence, and civil and territorial wars. By the end of his life, he was considered one of the most respected Orthodox hierarchs in the world. During his patriarchate, six popes succeeded one another in the Vatican, and four national governments came and went in Georgia: those of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Eduard Shevardnadze, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Bidzina Ivanishvili.

On the afternoon of March 22, the coffin containing the body of the Catholicos-Patriarch was carried by hand from the Holy Trinity-Sameba Cathedral to the Sioni Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Tbilisi, with a history spanning nearly 14 centuries. Throughout the procession, the cortege moved through the streets along a living corridor formed by people who had come to see the head of the church off on his final journey.

At the moment of Ilia II’s burial, funeral bells rang in all the churches of Georgia.

Fourteen citizens of Turkey have been detained in Georgia following a large-scale police operation.

All of the suspects were wanted by Turkish authorities on charges related to serious and particularly serious crimes.

The arrests were the result of a joint operation carried out by Georgian law enforcement agencies together with their Turkish counterparts. The announcement was made during a briefing by Irakli Dondoladze, Deputy Head of the Central Criminal Police Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to officials, eleven of the detainees were on the international wanted list through Interpol, while three others had been declared wanted at the national level in Turkey.

The suspects face a range of charges, including drug trafficking, theft, assault, threats, indecent acts involving a minor, participation in a criminal organization, murder, and fraud.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry stated that most of the suspects entered the country before they were placed on the international wanted list, while some allegedly crossed the border illegally. Criminal proceedings have also been launched in connection with these violations.

Legal procedures for the extradition of the detainees to Turkey are currently underway.

The National Botanical Garden of Georgia in Tbilisi has temporarily closed to visitors.

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The administration said it made this decision for safety reasons. A recent heavy snowfall caused one of the most serious incidents in the long history of the garden. Officials described the damage as large-scale and unprecedented. The situation required full mobilization of all services and emergency response measures.

Teams are now clearing damaged areas throughout the garden. Specialists are also working on site to save affected plants. According to Tbilisi City Hall, the snowfall damaged rare and valuable species, creating a serious threat to the garden’s ecosystem.

Visitors should check official updates before planning a trip, as reopening dates will depend on restoration progress and safety assessments.

Today, 19 flights to the Middle East were cancelled from Tbilisi International Airport and Batumi International Airport due to the escalating security situation in the region.

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Cancelled Flights from Tbilisi

Departures from Tbilisi have been suspended on the following routes:

• Tel Aviv – 8 flights
• Doha – 1 flight
• Dubai – 3 flights
• Sharjah – 2 flights
• Abu Dhabi – 1 flight
• Tehran – 1 flight

Cancelled Flights from Batumi

Three additional flights to Israel were cancelled from Batumi.

Middle East Situation and Flight Disruptions

Airlines continue to adjust schedules due to heightened tensions and security risks across parts of the Middle East. Ongoing instability has affected airspace operations in Israel and neighboring countries. Several carriers have temporarily suspended routes, rerouted aircraft, or reduced flight frequency to ensure passenger and crew safety.

Passengers traveling between Georgia and Middle Eastern destinations should monitor updates from their airlines and check airport websites for real-time information on cancellations, delays, and rescheduled departures. Travel plans may change at short notice as the regional situation develops.

The son of renowned Italian designer and urban planner Luca Ballarini, 20-year-old Pietro Ballarini, died while freeriding in Georgia. 

The young man’s father announced this on Instagram. According to him, Pietro was in Georgia with friends when the “accident” occurred while they were skiing off-piste. “He died happy, doing what he loved most: skiing in the mountains. That’s the only thing that comforts me,” Balarini added. 

Luca Balarini is known as one of the leading figures in the field of visual urban branding and cultural projects in Turin, Italy. 

There have been no official comments from the Italian or Georgian authorities regarding the circumstances of Pietro Balarini’s death.

Read more about Georgian ski resorts:

• Bakuriani ski resort
• Gudauri ski resort

South Korea’s low-cost carrier T’way Air plans to operate direct charter flights between Seoul and Tbilisi, according to Georgia’s Civil Aviation Agency.

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The airline intends to run eight non-scheduled flights between April 24 and October 16, 2026, during the summer navigation season.

According to the application submitted to the agency, T’way Air will use Airbus A330 and Boeing B777 aircraft for the route. In total, eight flights are scheduled between the two capitals.

Seasonal non-scheduled flights between Georgia and the Republic of Korea also operated in 2024–2025 by Korean Air. In 2024, air traffic between the two countries carried 1,077 passengers. In 2025, that number rose to 2,233 passengers.

Georgia’s Civil Aviation Agency, part of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, has already granted the airline the necessary permit to operate the flights.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said that authorities are working to reopen disrupted routes across the Caucasus. As part of this effort, officials are considering the restoration of rail connections between Russia and Georgia via Abkhazia.

He did not clarify whether Moscow had informed Tbilisi about the proposal. However, he stressed that Russia expects constructive cooperation among all regional states in order to strengthen transport and logistics ties.

A railway linking Russia and Georgia through Abkhazia operated during the Soviet period. It connected Sochi and Tbilisi via Sukhumi and Poti. After the war in Abkhazia in the early 1990s, both passenger and freight traffic stopped. Since then, the line has fallen into disrepair.

In recent years, Russian officials have repeatedly mentioned plans to rebuild the railway. Meanwhile, media outlets have reported that the Georgian Dream government has held secret talks with Moscow on the issue. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has denied those claims.

At the same time, Tbilisi has consistently stated that it will only consider transport projects through the occupied territories within the framework of restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity.

According to Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Solomon Pavliashvili, the measure will take effect next year.

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However, the ban will not cover all plastic packaging. Authorities will allow the sale of oil in plastic bottles and drinking water in containers larger than 10 liters. In addition, the restriction will not apply to products intended for export, BM.ge reports.

This step forms part of a broader campaign to reduce plastic use across the country. Starting January 1, Georgia will prohibit the production of single-use plastic products for the domestic market. Manufacturers will still be able to produce plastic tableware for export.

From April 1, state institutions will no longer be allowed to purchase plastic cups, containers, or bottles with a capacity of up to 3 liters. Later, from July 1, the government will extend the ban to hotels, restaurants, and cafes.