Page 55 - GEORptSep22

Georgia residents travelled abroad almost five times more y/y in 2Q2022
people visited Georgia, from those 460,000 were tourists.
Russia is the leader in tourism revenues with $116mn, followed by Saudi Arabia with $44.2mn, Turkey with $43.8mn, EU countries with $43.6mn, and Belarus is in fifth place with $33.5mn.
In the second quarter of 2022, the number of Georgian residents' trips abroad equalled 515,000, which is 4.6 times higher than the same time the year before. 47.3% were made by travellers of the 31-50 age group, according to the preliminary data published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
The number of outbound visits by Georgian visitors made up 406,000, which is 3.9 times higher y/y. Outbound visitors have made 221,000 tourist-type visits, which is higher by 134% y/y.
Half of the outbound visits, 50%, were made by the visitors of the age group of 31-50 years. The number of women's visits equalled 46.5% of the total number of visits. Most outbound visits were made to Turkey and Russia, 235,000 and 45,000, respectively.
In 2Q2022, the average number of nights spent during the visits was six. About 95% of outbound visits were repeat visits.
9.1.6 Infrastructure and construction sector news
Chinese contractor fined for slow road construction in west Georgia
The Georgian infrastructure ministry reported that the China Road and Bridge Corporation, the contractor company for a road rehabilitation project in the country's western Guria region, had been fined GEL1.7mn ($629,664) for failing to fulfil the terms of the contract.
The statement came on August 10 in response to a media report. It rejected its claims that the company had escaped a fine, further adding that the news story about the project had been "saturated with factual errors".
The statement also noted the contract with the company had been terminated on one section of the road out of nine due to a delay in the execution of the work schedule, saying the company had reimbursed GEL4.8mn to the state budget.
The Chinese company has significantly increased the pace of production of road rehabilitation works. "However, the progress of works remains under monitoring, and in case of poor progress, proper measures will be taken as specified in the contract", the statement read.
The 63 km road is funded by the World Bank. It seeks to improve the local
55 GEORGIA Country Report September 2022 www.intellinews.com