Which Regions in Georgia Are the Most Popular Among International Visitors, and What Determines This?

Most international visitors to Georgia begin their journey at Tbilisi International Airport, reinforcing the city’s status as the country’s primary tourism hub. According to 2024 data from Geostat, Tbilisi is the most visited region, attracting 63% of international visitors, highlighting its significance in cultural, historical, and business tourism. The capital offers diverse infrastructure, high-end hotels, gourmet restaurants, markets, and museums.

Adjara ranks second with 47%, mainly due to the popularity of Batumi’s seaside resorts, nightlife, and gaming industry. Batumi International Airport gives the region an additional advantage, making it easily accessible for tourists from Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Middle East.

Imereti, with its central city of Kutaisi, accounts for only 10% of international visitors, despite being home to David Agmashenebeli International Airport, which serves budget airlines. Many visitors arriving in Kutaisi do not stay in the city but rather continue their travels to other regions.

Mtskheta-Mtianeti, at 19%, is a more popular destination, primarily due to Kazbegi and Gudauri. These areas attract winter sports enthusiasts, though the seasonal nature of tourism leads to fluctuations in visitor numbers.

Samtskhe-Javakheti (11%) and Kvemo Kartli (10%) are less visited, although they boast significant historical landmarks remain attractive to certain groups of tourists.

Kakheti, accounting for 8% of visitors, is one of Georgia’s main wine tourism destinations, yet its international popularity remains relatively low. The region’s tourism development requires stronger international marketing and infrastructure improvements.

Other regions collectively receive only 9% of visitors, indicating challenges related to infrastructure, lower awareness, and limited transportation connectivity.

Ultimately, the popularity of a region depends on airport accessibility, infrastructure, awareness, and seasonality. To better distribute tourist flows across the country, improvements in transportation and marketing efforts in various regions are essential.