In Q1 of 2024, the number of domestic visits amounted to 4.7 million, reflecting a 7% increase compared to the corresponding period of 2023. Previously, a significant rise was recorded in domestic tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic when international travel was restricted. Since 2022, the reclassification of many Russian, Belarussian, and Ukrainian immigrants as residents rather than international visitors has contributed to a rising trend in this indicator, meaning that these figures do not necessarily indicate that more Georgians are vacationing domestically than before.
The distribution of domestic visitors by visited region Q1 of 2024 was similar to the corresponding period of 2023. Tbilisi remained the primary destination for domestic visits, accounting for 23% of total visits, followed by Imereti (18%) and Adjara (10%).
Since Q1 of 2021, a clear pattern of a decreasing average duration per visit has been evident in the corresponding quarters of subsequent years. In Q1 of 2024, the average number of nights spent per visit was 1.2, marking a slight decrease compared to the same period of 2023 (1.3 nights) and 2019 (1.4 nights). • In the Q1 of 2024, domestic visitors’ total expenditure amounted to GEL 798 million, representing an 8.6% increase compared to Q1 of 2023. The distribution of total expenditure remained similar, with shopping (35%), food and drink (21%), and transportation (19%) being the main categories.
WTTC estimates that, in 2024, domestic visitor spending will reach GEL 7.2 billion (10.1% increase compared to the previous year).
Visits to Georgia's protected areas in Q1 of 2024 did not recover to pre-pandemic levels for the corresponding period.
Prometheus Cave and Tbilisi National Park were the most popular destinations for visitors to Georgia's protected areas in Q1 of 2024.
Russia, India, Poland, Israel, and Kazakhstan were the top five countries of origin of visitors in the Q1 of 2024. • Visits to protected areas are characterized by considerable seasonality, with the third quarter of the year usually recording the highest number of visitors, while the first quarter traditionally has the fewest.
In Q1 of 2024, average hotel prices in Georgia generally increased compared to the same period in 2023. While this overall growth was mainly caused by rises in the guesthouse (+5%) and 5-star hotel (+3%) categories, a decrease was reported for 3-star hotels (-2%).
