Page 46 - GEORptNov18

Admittedly this was from a low base. Tajikistan benefits the leasts from the small number of tourists it manages to attract, drawing in just $8mn in 2017 — compared to $22.4bn in the region’s most popular destination Turkey. The numbers for Azerbaijan and Georgia are greater, but they still can’t compete with top beach destinations like Turkey and Croatia or the cultural lure of the Czech Republic, Poland or Russia.
Still the numbers tell a positive story about the growing attractiveness of more obscure destinations in this part of the world. Thanks to a combination of promotion efforts by governments, the expansion of budget flights (in particular to Georgia), and simply the growing propensity to travel worldwide and the increasing adventurousness of tourists, these and other previously overlooked destinations are seeing visitor numbers rise.
The number of visitors to Azerbaijan almost doubled from 1.3mn in 2010 to 2.4mn in 2017, and their spending more than quadrupled from $657mn to $3.0bn. Baku has had considerable success in raising the country’s profile with cultural and sporting events from Eurovision 2012 to the annual Grand Prix . Visitors to neighbouring Georgia more than tripled between 2010 and 2017. As in Azerbaijan, there was an even sharper increase in tourism revenues, from $659mn to $2.8bn during the same period. Georgia’s rich history, spectacular mountain scenery, Black Sea coast, and wine and food are all draws for tourists to the country , which is increasingly served by budget airlines.
The three South Caucasus republics are particularly popular with Iranian travellers , especially around the Nowruz Persian (aka Navrus) new year holiday, when tens of thousands of Iranians travel abroad to celebrate in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Overall international tourist arrivals grew 7.0% in 2017, which was the highest increase since the 2009 global economic crisis, outstripping the UNWTO’s long-term forecast of 3.8% per year for the period 2010 to 2020. During the year, international tourism receipts increased by a real 4.9% (adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation) to reach $1.3 trillion.
“Destinations in Central and Eastern Europe ... posted solid growth with a few exceptions, thanks to increased outbound demand from Russia,” said the report. In fact, with Russian tourists typically spending generously, “The recovery of the Russian outbound market ... benefitted many destinations,” it added.
46 GEORGIA Country Report November 2018 www.intellinews.com