Foreign tour guides continue to work in Georgia despite new restrictions, while enforcement mechanisms remain unclear, according to Temur Zoidze, head of Ajara Tourism Guide Association.
Speaking to BMG, Zoidze said local guides welcomed the legislation, which reserves guiding services for Georgian citizens and permanent residents. However, he noted that foreign guides are still conducting tours and that neither the association nor other stakeholders know which agency is responsible for enforcing the rules and issuing fines.
He also argued that limited exceptions should be considered for certain languages where Georgia faces a shortage of qualified guides, including Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, and German. According to Zoidze, without such flexibility, some tourist groups may struggle to receive adequate service.
Since May 1, amendments to Georgia’s Labor Migration Law have been enforced, setting a zero quota for non-permanent residents working as guides, taxi drivers, or couriers. Violations can result in fines for both employers and foreign workers, including self-employed individuals.
