Page 57 - GEORptOct21

Tbilisi International Airport passenger traffic recovers by 38% in first eight months
EU states reportedly discussing suspending visa-free travel with Georgia
30mn lari of tourism projects announced for Georgia’s Adjara region
Passenger traffic at Tbilisi International Airport recovered by 38% in the first eight months of 2021 compared to the same period of pre-COVID-19 year 2019, TAV Georgia has reported.
The airport served 640,353 passengers from June through August, it added. A total of 33 airlines are in operation at Tbilisi International Airport, fulfilling regular and charter flights.
Passenger turnover at Batumi International Airport in the first eight months was three-quarters what it was in pre-COVID-19 2019 while for August it was up 6% compared to the same month two years ago.
Eighteen airlines are operating at the airport, which served 276,597 passengers from June through August.
Brussels-based online news outlet EUobserver reported on September29 that it has seen an internal EU document about dissatisfaction on unlawful residency and unfounded asylum claims of citizens of Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova as well as of some western Balkan states.
Germany reportedly led the objections in reference to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The document seen by the Brussels-based outlet pointed to a 51% increase in Georgian asylum claims over the past three months, compared to the same period in 2019. The media outlet said France was also unhappy with Georgia.
The EU Member States are reportedly actively discussing possibly threatening a Visa Suspension Mechanism, which allows for reintroducing visas in case of a rise of more than 50% in illegal stays or asylum applications with low approval rates.
Georgia was granted visa-free travel with the EU in 2017, allowing its citizens to travel to the Schengen area for up to 90 days for business, tourist, or family purposes. The EU-Georgia Visa Liberalization Dialogue was launched in 2012. The European Commission’s assessment of the fulfillment of visa liberalisation requirements, published on August 4, 2021, said Georgia was taking actions to address the issue of unfounded applications for international protection.
But the Commission called on Georgia for further efforts on addressing the asylum applications, as well as in the areas of combatting money laundering, corruption and organised crime.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and Adjara government chairman Tornike Rizhvadze announced on August 18 five new tourism projects for Adjara’s Shuakhevi municipality, with a total investment value of around GEL 30mn ($9.6mn).
One of the projects involves the construction of a dual zipline in Chikhuri. GEL10mn will be spent on the zipline, envisaged as the longest in Europe. Another project is the Chvani Gorge Tourism Development Plan, which includes new trails, visitor centres, scenic view spots and a demonstration village showcasing authentic mills. The project's value is estimated at GEL10mn.
Another project, in Gomarduli resort, seeks to build toboggan and aerial lifts, to breathe new life into the ski resort. The project's value also amounts to GEL10mn.
Tourist shelters and camping sites are under construction on Mount Jvarimindori in Shuakhevi, with a budget of GEL250,000. Expected to be completed in late October, the project there will put in place a mountain link between Shuakhevi municipality and Guria province.
In the same vein, pedestrian/bike trails stretching across Keda and Shuakhevi municipalities are also under construction to support the development of adventure tourism. The project budget for the trails is about GEL500,000.
57 GEORGIA Country Report October 2021 www.intellinews.com