Georgia’s mountain resort town Gudauri is facing a major tourism crisis, with 85% of summer bookings cancelled amid the ongoing Israeli-Iranian conflict, according to Miranda Esakia, co-founder of the Mountain Resorts Business Association. Speaking to BMG, Esakia said the cancellations were driven by a wave of suspended flights from key tourism markets.
“The season in Gudauri started well, with 90% of hotels booked through the end of September,” Esakia noted. “But on June 12–13, all flights from the countries our summer tourists come from were cancelled. Fourteen airlines suspended flights to Tbilisi and five to Batumi, mostly from the Middle East, Gulf countries, and Israel, which is one of our largest markets. As a result, 85% of summer bookings were cancelled.”
She added that partial recovery could be possible if the ceasefire agreement between the conflicting parties holds.
“We expect some bookings and flights may be restored starting at the end of the month.”
Esakia also said Georgia’s tourism segment has shifted, with high-spending tourists decreasing due to infrastructure problems, while low-budget travelers dominate recent arrivals. Domestic tourism remains weak, accounting for just 8–9% of Gudauri’s summer visitors.
Despite the crisis, prices at the resort have not been lowered, with a focus instead on maintaining quality service.
