Page 48 - GEORptFeb22

"The issue of the curfew is actively on the agenda. Representatives of both economic group agencies and the Ministry of Health are actively considering the additional benefits that vaccinated tourists may have. Also, the removal of various types of restrictions for places where the personnel is vaccinated. I mean both accommodation and food facilities, which we hope will open soon and will help attract more tourists in the future," Koriauli added.
9.1.4 Automobile sector news
Georgia to spend $49mn on purchase of 44 new metro cars
Georgia’s government plans to purchase 44 new metro cars for the capital Tbilisi’s metro system, at a cost of $49.2mn.
Tbilisi City Hall is working on the project with specialists from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
“Tbilisi Metro will have eight new metro cars by 2022, while the remaining 36 will be purchased by 2024,” Tbilisi City Hall said.
Guramishvili, Station Square, Sarajishvili, Marjanishvili, Freedom Square, 300 Aragveli, Rustaveli, Isani, Tsereteli, and Nadzaladevi metro stations will also be renovated with the support of the EBRD.
A contract for the renovation of Gotsiridze metro station was also reportedly signed with LTD Mamisoni on November 11. Renovations will be finished in about half a year.
In November, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a new €101mn loan for improving infrastructure in Georgia. Included in plans for this funding were upgrades to Tbilisi’s municipal metro system, possibly involving new metro cars among other measures.
9.1.5 Tourism sector news
Georgia hosts 1.394mn international travellers in January-October
Georgian tourism at 50% of 2019 levels
Georgian media reported on November 11 that the country received nearly 1.4mn tourists in the first 1- months of 2021.
The total amount of international travellers visiting Georgia from January to October 2021 was 1,393,914, a 1.8% decrease y/y from 2020 and 79% less than the same period in 2019. In October alone, 205,680 tourists visited the country, 313% more than in October 2020 but 69% less than in October 2019. Total revenue from tourist in October 2021 was $886mn, a 73% jump y/y.
Like most countries, tourism in Georgia has taken a massive hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s National Tourism Administration reported in October that tourism earnings from the first nine months of 2021 were one-third of those from the same period in 2019.
Tourism in Georgia recovered to just over half of its 2019 levels, while imports and exports remained steady, brokerage Galt & Taggart reports. The recovery in tourism strengthened in September 2021, with tourist arrivals (overnight stays) recovering to 39% of the September 2019 level, up from an average 33% recovery during June-August 2021. Notably, tourism revenues recovered faster than arrivals in September like in previous months, hitting 50.8% of September 2019 level, as in visitor mix tourists are prevailing, spending more than same-day arrivals (note that since recovery started from April 2021, tourists numbers recovered at an average 30% of 2019 level, while in the same period same-day arrivals accounted for only 5% of the 2019 level and therefore revenues are recovering faster). That said, 226,700 international visitors (up 348.8% y/y, tourists and same-day arrivals combined) travelled to Georgia in September 2021, with most visitors from Russia (14.6% of total), followed by Turkey (14.2% of total), and Ukraine (10.1% of total). Most visitors
48 GEORGIA Country Report February 2022 www.intellinews.com