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the related revenue gain appear to have been less impressive.
In November, international tourism revenue in Georgia totalled $201.7mn (up 5.6% y/y), a figure in line with a moderate recovery since the negative annual figures seen in July to August.
The share of tourism in Georgia’s GDP was 7.7% in H1, with the value-added generated by the sector increasing by 19.7% compared to the previous year.
The number of international travellers arriving in Georgia increased by 12% y/y to 670,122 in November. ​The figure stood in marked contrast to the average 6.8% gain seen for the months running from January to October, the country’s National Tourism Administration noted.
The progress came despite the continuation of a flight ban introduced against Georgia by Russia during the early summer in response to anti-Kremlin protests and comments made by a TV presenter. In September, for the first time in Georgia, tourism revenue from European Union visitors exceeded the figure generated from Russian tourists, according to Koba Gvenetadze, president of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG).
The number of visits classified as “tourist” was 338,831, 10.3% more than in 2018.
For January-November, the number of visits paid by international travellers to Georgia stood at a record 8,690,352, up 7.2% y/y.
Only 82,029 visits recorded as made by travellers coming from Russia were recorded for November, down 10.9% y/y. The number classified as “tourist” wsa 53,599, 24% lower compared to the same month in 2018.
For the first 11 months of 2019, the number of visitors from Russia amounted to 1,406,255, up 4.9% y/y. The “tourist” proportion was 1,038,132, up a very slight 0.1% y.y.
The importance of tourism to Georgia's economy has distinctly risen in recent years, according to a sector report compiled by Georgian financial group TBC, and quoted by Business Media. The share of tourism-related services in the country's economy is 7.6%. The ratio of tourist income to GDP is 20%, compared to 10% in 2011. Also, the share of tourism in the country's total exports of goods and services stands at 36%.
9.1.5 ​Infrastructure and construction sector news
Poti operator in Georgia asks for government support for deep-water expansion
The operator of Poti Port on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Danish group Maersk, announced on January 28 that it has asked for government support to immediately kick off a $250mn investment plan to develop deeper berths designed to accommodate larger vessels, according to Business Media Group.
The project depends on approval being granted for the use of more land. APM officials said that the new berths would be 13-14.5 meters deep. This makes their project in principle a competitor to the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) deep water port project further south on the Black Sea coast at Anaklia, although that project is designed for significantly larger capacity.
However, the Poti port expansion needs extra land to build the new terminal. The lad was subject to an administrative dispute between the economy ministry and APM. On August 30, the ministry dismissed Poti Port's complaint that requested officials annul the preliminary construction permit.
On January 28, APM Terminals released another announcement on the project. The company argued that the project would significantly increase turnover at Poti.
45​ GEORGIA Country Report​ February 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com