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More tourists in Georgia than Georgians?

By Messenger Staff
Thursday, September 2
President Saakashvili made a statement in Batumi on August 30 that almost 2 million tourists will visit Georgia this year. He also suggested that by 2013 the number of tourists visiting Georgia could possibly be the same number as the Georgian population. Saakashvili hopes that if the tourism industry and central government work accordingly, in the next 5 years the number of tourists might reach 10 million. Saakashvili rather optimistically believes that developing Georgia's tourism industry will be the quickest and most efficient way to solve the country’s economic problems. The President believes that for every million tourists entering Georgia USD 1 billion will flow into the country and create the essential extra jobs.