Georgia’s tourism sector is expected to grow by 4–5% in 2026, despite reduced visitor flows from several markets due to the war in the Middle East and higher airfares, Paata Kokaia, founder of INN Group, told TV-program Business Course.
Kokaia said the third quarter delivered strong results for INN Group hotels, outperforming the second quarter in occupancy. Increased arrivals from neighboring countries and the European Union helped offset declining demand from some Middle Eastern and Asian markets.
According to Kokaia, visitor numbers from the EU increased by approximately 23%, while hotel demand in Tbilisi rose by around 5%. Gori recorded stronger growth of 12–13%, supported by domestic tourism. Gudauri, however, experienced a 6% decline following a disappointing winter season.
Kokaia attributed weaker demand from Gulf countries, India, South Korea, and Thailand to the regional conflict, disrupted flights, and rising aviation fuel costs.
He added that without the decline in these markets, Georgia’s tourism growth could have reached double digits.
Official figures show that Georgia recorded 4.4 million international tourist visits in January–September 2026, an annual increase of 2.3%. International visits reached about 6.1 million, up by 0.04% year-on-year.
