Tourism Statistical Report 4 th Quarter 2015 SUMMARY

Tourism Statistical Report 4 th Quarter 2015

SUMMARY (Fourth quarter of 2015) • The number of international arrivals in Georgia increased by +8% in fourth quarter, compared to the same period of last year, while +6. 9% growth was registered during 2015. • The majority of foreign travelers (89%) were from neighboring countries • The highest share of international travelers (87%) visited Georgia by land • Around, 1, 475 accommodation units with total capacity 51, 381 beds are registered in the database of GNTA.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS (Fourth quarter of 2015) • A record 1, 406, 646 international travelers arrived to Georgia, representing +8% increase over the same period of last year. Furthermore, data of 2015 showed 5, 897, 685 international arrivals in Georgia, with +7% growth rate. • The highest number of arrivals 504, 450 was registered in October. • According to the border crossing statistics in Georgia, out of the total number of visits, 34% lasted longer than 24 hours, 44% were same day visitors and 22% were for the purpose of transit. Month 2014 2015 Change % January 320, 005 309, 467 -3% February 295, 434 290, 929 -2% March 394, 884 385, 970 -2% April 393, 209 394, 634 0% May 396, 264 454, 545 15% June 454, 347 496, 758 9% July 673, 552 737, 696 10% August 774, 982 852, 377 10% September 504, 902 568, 663 13% October 470, 160 504, 450 7% November 402, 374 436, 234 8% December 435, 446 465, 962 7% Total 5, 515, 559 5, 897, 685 6. 9% International arrivals by years International Arrivals IV quarter (20082015) Types of Visit 2014 IV quarter 2015 IV quarter change % share 24 hours and more 456, 894 477, 544 5% 34% Transit 282, 931 312, 973 11% 22% Same-day visit 568, 155 616, 129 8% 44% Total 1, 307, 980 1, 406, 646 8% 100% 1 International visitors’ survey conducted by Georgian National Tourism Administration showed share of tourists in total number of international visitors 61%. According to UNWTO “Tourist is a visitor taking an overnight trip to a main destination outside his/her usual environment, for less than a year, for any purpose (business, leisure or personal) other than to be employed by a resident entity in the country or place visited”.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS BY BORDERS (Fourth quarter of 2015) • The largest share of visitors, 87% (1, 228, 623) arrived in Georgia by land transport, followed by air transport, 156, 471. • In addition, in 2015 5, 031, 445 travelers arrived in Georgia by land, followed by air transport travelers – 764, 296. • The busiest border was Sarpi (Turkish border), which saw 314, 566 crossings. The same border registered 1, 406, 778 international arrivals during the 2015. Border name Border with 2014: IV q 2015: IV q Change % Sarpi Sadakhlo Tsiteli Khidi Kazbegi Airport Tbilisi Tsodna Ninotsminda Vale Vakhtangisi Airport Batumi Airport Kutaisi Guguti Railway Gardabani Port Batumi Kartsakhi Port Poti Railway Sadakhlo Port Kulevi Akhkerpi Samtatskaro Turkey Armenia Azerbaijan Russia 315, 272 268, 485 230, 830 193, 719 104, 975 56, 438 53, 788 17, 913 13, 234 7, 573 12, 519 9, 014 8, 865 6, 794 0 4, 877 3, 385 65 117 314, 566 274, 894 247, 721 234, 879 134, 478 55, 299 50, 251 18, 189 17, 474 12, 780 9, 213 8, 779 7, 093 6, 956 6, 351 3, 739 2, 942 822 123 97 -0. 2% 2% 7% 21% 28% -2% -7% 2% 32% 69% -26% -3% -20% 2% Azerbaijan Armenia Turkey Armenia Azerbaijan Turkey Azerbaijan Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia International Arrivals by Borders 2015: IV quarter -23% -13% 1165% 5% -17%

IMPORTANT TENDENCIES (Fourth quarter of 2015) • The majority of foreign travelers (89%) were from neighboring countries. Armenia took a dominant position among them with 397, 887 (+4%) international arrivals • A notable increase in arrivals was registered from Armenia (+14, 994, +4%), Azerbaijan (+31, 092, +10%), Russia (+20, 839, +12%) and Israel (+4, 006, +50%). It was caused by the intensification of direct flights to Israel and the significant role played by the marketing campaigns administered by the GNTA • The introduction of direct flights to Georgia boosted number of arrivals from United Arab Emirates to 3, 435 (+386%) • International arrivals from European Union amounted to 39, 751 representing 3% share of total arrivals. • A notable increase in arrivals was registered from Belarus (+1, 251, +37%) and Kazakhstan (+698, +13%). It was caused by the marketing campaigns administered by the GNTA. 2015 year statistical data: • The largest number of international arrivals 1, 467, 454 was registered from Armenia • A significant increase in arrivals was registered from United Arab Emirates +15, 012 (+677%), caused by the introduction of direct flights and travel-fair administered by the GNTA • The number of foreign travelers from neighboring countries reached 5, 176, 887 representing 88% of total arrivals • International arrivals from European Union countries amounted to 242, 101 representing 4% share of total arrivals. Top 15 Countries I-IV quarter Top 15 Countries IV quarter 2014 IV quarter 2015 IV quarter change % Country 2014 2015 change % Armenia Azerbaijan Turkey Russia Ukraine Israel United States of America Germany Kazakhstan Iran India 382, 893 308, 258 327, 375 170, 573 29, 422 7, 959 397, 887 339, 350 326, 667 191, 412 31, 275 11, 965 4% 10% 0% 12% 6% 50% 5, 797 6, 678 15% 6, 405 5, 539 2, 957 887 6, 586 6, 237 5, 668 5, 223 3% 13% 92% 489% 1, 325, 635 1, 283, 214 1, 442, 695 811, 621 143, 521 42, 385 46, 314 33, 446 28, 394 1, 467, 454 1, 392, 993 1, 391, 379 925, 061 141, 656 59, 480 41, 415 36, 820 36, 758 11% 9% -4% 14% -1% 40% -11% 10% 29% 28, 272 31, 143 10% Belarus 3, 386 4, 637 37% 19, 148 47, 929 28, 952 25, 264 51% -47% Poland 5, 522 4, 570 -17% 18, 586 19, 228 3% Greece Philippines 4, 363 1, 087 4, 035 4, 029 -8% 271% Armenia Azerbaijan Turkey Russia Ukraine Israel Poland Germany Kazakhstan United States of America Belarus Iran United Kingdom Greece United Arab Emirates 21, 464 19, 217 -10% 2, 216 17, 228 677% Country

ACCOMMODATION SECTOR (Fourth quarter of 2015) • There were around 1, 475 accommodation units in Georgia, with a total capacity 51, 381 beds • Hotels had the highest share of the bed capacity (65%) • The capital city, Tbilisi dominates the Georgian hotel market. It boasts the large share (26%) of total capacity of beds. Distribution of Accommodation Units Number of bed places by regions Number of bed places by types Report is provided by the Research and Planning Department of Georgian National Tourism Administration Tel: + 995 322 43 69 99/30 E-mail: infostatistics@gnta. ge