Former head of the Adjara Tourism and Resorts Department, Temur Diasamidze, says Batumi is still effectively functioning as a 2–3 month seasonal resort rather than developing into a year-round tourist destination. He argues that despite official optimism, private sector realities point to a short and concentrated summer season, mainly limited to July and August.
According to Diasamidze, the city continues to face serious infrastructure and service-related challenges, including unclean beaches, poorly maintained streets, and a lack of parking spaces. He also notes that when the weather is rainy, visitors have very limited entertainment options, which reduces the city’s attractiveness and shortens average tourist stays.
He further highlights a growing dependence on Russian-speaking markets, alongside increased competition from migrants who have become active in tourism-related services. Diasamidze says this has created a parallel ecosystem in the sector, particularly in tour operations and rental services, where foreign operators often have technological and marketing advantages over local businesses.
The expert also warns that oversupply in Batumi’s real estate market is pushing rental prices down, while overall tourist expenses are rising, weakening competitiveness compared to regional destinations such as Turkey. He suggests that expanding indoor entertainment, cultural venues, and food courts could help extend the season and improve the city’s tourism resilience.
