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Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) project collaborate to increase the freight flow along this route, and it is part of Grampet’s strategy to operate the first freight rail transport between China and Western Europe, through Romania.
9.1.3​ Aviation sector news
Georgia’s airports served 4,555,673 passengers in January-October, marking a 4% rise year on year, United Airports of Georgia has announced.
Passenger traffic through the country’s airports surged by 23% in 2018. A similar growth rate was expected for 2019 before Russia introduced a flight ban in the wake of anti-Kremlin protests in Tbilisi during early summer. Traffic at Tbilisi International Airport, which mainly serves destinations to Russia and non-Schengen Area countries, decreased by 1% to 3,255,965 passengers in the 10-month period. In October alone, the figure was 15% lower year on year. The flight ban was introduced in July. It has visibly impacted passenger volumes at the country’s main airport.
Traffic at Kutaisi International Airport, the main airport for Europe flights, surged by 40% y/y to 719,324 passengers. The growth rate stood at 44% y/y in October alone.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a ​Kommersant​ interview on September 25 that he supports the resumption of direct flights from Russia to Georgia.​ They were suspended in July in a diplomatic row between the two countries over anti-Moscow demonstrations and anti-Kremlin remarks made by a TV presenter.
“It seems to me that it would be right [to restore the flights] since the majority of the Georgian population have realised the counterproductive and provocative nature of the trick that took place in the Georgian parliament,” Lavrov said, according​ R​ euters​, ​referring to how the protests were sparked after word spread of a visiting Russian MP being invited to take the speaker’s chair in the parliament in Tbilisi.
The ban on passenger flights from Russia to Georgia triggered a wave of support on social media and in public media in favour of Georgia as a tourism destination. Russians intent on holidaying in the country or on visiting friends and relatives living there had to resort to road travel.
Losses to airlines resulting from the ban on direct flights between Russia and Georgia is estimated at RUB3bn ($47mn), Russian Transport Minister Yevgeny Ditrikh said on July 7, Tass reported.
The ban was introduced after​ ​mass protests outside the Georgian parliament​, triggered by reports that a Russian lawmaker was giving a speech from the speaker’s chair inside the legislature.
9.1.4 ​Tourism sector news
Georgia’s tourism revenues up modest 1.2% in Jan-Nov
Georgia’s revenues from international tourists moved up by a modest 1.2% y/y in the first 11 months of the year to $3.05bn, according to preliminary data from the National Tourism Administration.
Tourism revenues rose by over 18% y/y to $3.2bn for the full year of 2018. The sector has this year been hit by a ban on flights introduced by Russia in July over a political dispute. Active campaigns, including by foreign social media, have on the other hand helped push up the number of tourists travelling to Georgia. The count rose by 6.3% y/y to 4.77mn in January to November, but
44​ GEORGIA Country Report​ February 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com