Tourism up this winter

The number of tourists visiting Georgia this past winter has increased compared with last year. Winter came late this year, but official statistics cite a 40% increase in foreigners visiting Georgia in the first quarter of 2012, to approximately 700 000 persons.

Gudauri was popular with tourists from Ukraine and the Baltic states, while Bakuriani and Mestia were primarily visited by citizens of Azerbaijan, Israel, Poland, and Russia.

Tourists from Russia in particular have increased since Georgia lifted visa requirements.