Paata Kokaia, co-founder of Inn Group, says Gudauri’s main challenge remains limited artificial snow coverage and underdeveloped public infrastructure. While Bakuriani boasts about 29 kilometers of artificial snow, Gudauri currently has only 5 kilometers, which can quickly turn slushy under heavy tourist use. Plans exist to add 14 kilometers of new snowmaking lines, though timelines remain unclear.
Despite these limitations, Kokaia reports that occupancy at the Inn Group hotel in Gudauri exceeds 90% from mid-December to the end of February, largely due to visitors from India, China, and Persian Gulf countries. “We don’t have a tourist to complain about. European tourists would leave if ski slopes aren’t ready, but the snow is sufficient for Indians and Arabs,” he said.
Kokaia emphasized that without these non-European tourists, Gudauri would be largely empty, highlighting the importance of diversifying the resort’s visitor base amid ongoing infrastructure constraints.
