The tourism industry in Georgia has lost up to $ 60 million due to a reduction in the flow of tourists from Russia. This was stated by Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.
“The steps taken by us give reason to inform that we will definitely return the growth dynamics in the tourism sector that we had. According to July data, the tourism sector suffered damage up to $ 60 million, but a very good trend was observed in June in the Adjara region, when tourism grew by 40% compared to the same data last year, ”RIA Novosti quoted the minister as saying.
According to him, the authorities have developed programs to support small and medium-sized businesses in the tourism sector.
However, the Georgian authorities are unlikely to quickly recover from economic losses and find a replacement for Russian tourists, said Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, RT. According to him, one should not expect that neighboring countries will deliver a large number of tourists.
“That the number of tourists in Georgia has always been limited by neighboring countries - Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia and partly Ukraine. In my opinion, all these countries, except Russia, are already quite close to the ceiling of their export tourism opportunities, ”Bruter believes.
According to him, if a similar situation persists for several years, the investment potential of the Georgian tourism business will decrease.
“First of all, it concerns Batumi, which should maintain its level as a sea resort. And if there is a shortage of vacationers for some time, this will reduce or limit its potential. Therefore, I think that for Georgia this is in some sense an insoluble task, ”the expert commented on the situation.
The Georgian Prime Minister’s statement on economic support for business is aimed at calming the domestic population rather than reflecting the government’s real intentions to support the tourism sector, said Vladimir Olenchenko, senior researcher at the Center for European Studies at IMEMO RAS.
“This is most likely addressed to an internal audience. The Prime Minister wants to maintain his authority among the population. Surely, Georgian authorities understand that their ratings are beginning to gradually decline. According to bureaucratic logic, some positive examples should be shown along with the negative ones. Apparently, he cites Adjara as a positive example, ”the expert commented on RT.
- Protesters in Tbilisi
- RIA News
Recall, on July 8, 2019, by directive of Russian President Vladimir Putin, direct flights between Russia and Georgia were suspended. The reason for the ban was anti-Russian demonstrations that swept the Georgian capital on June 20. Protesters opposed the participation of Russian delegates in the session of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy.
The protests turned into attempts to storm the parliament building and clashes with the police. As a result of these events, about 240 people were injured, including about 30 journalists. More than 300 people were detained. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Russia an enemy and stated that only Moscow could be interested in a split in Georgian society.
A spokesman for Russian President Dmitry Peskov called the suspension of flights a temporary measure and said that air traffic would be restored "when the slightest threat stemming from Russophobic manifestations disappears."
However, the Georgian authorities will have to provide serious guarantees, said Vladimir Olenchenko.
“It cannot be automatic here: we (Georgia) behaved well, and Russia will immediately begin to transfer money to us through the tourist flow. In addition to eliminating obstacles, it is necessary to give some guarantees. So that Russian representatives have confidence that there will be no surprises that could harm Russian interests, ”the expert said.
The Georgian authorities will establish relations with Russia and “refuse radical promises,” Bruter emphasized.
Earlier, the Georgian airline Georgian Airways called the amount of damage caused to it by the ban on flights with Russia. The company lost about $ 25 million, but it managed to receive government compensation of € 600 thousand for the implementation of transit flights through Yerevan, the company reported to TASS.
“The suspension of direct flights between Georgia and Russia dealt a significant blow to Georgian Airways and put it in a difficult financial position. Airlines had to return about 80% of tickets already sold. In addition, the number of people wishing to buy tickets fell sharply, which is why the airline suffered a total loss of about $ 25 million, ”the airline said.
In July, the number of Russian tourists visiting Georgia fell by 6.4% compared to July last year, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Georgian National Tourism Administration. According to the organization, the number of tourists for the year fell from 169 to 159 thousand people. At the same time, the number of travelers arriving by air decreased by 48.8%.