Advance bookings at Khatosi, a family-run guesthouse in the Racha region, are lower than in the previous two years, according to founder Beso Khidesheli. He told BM.GE that while reservation volumes have declined, the property's current occupancy rate remains broadly in line with last year.
Khatosi operates primarily during the summer season, with peak demand extending from June through October. Khidesheli said occupancy from the beginning of the year through the pre-season period has averaged between 20% and 30%, reflecting the highly seasonal nature of tourism in the region.
The guesthouse attracts a balanced mix of domestic and international visitors, with Georgian and foreign guests each accounting for about half of total bookings. International travelers mainly arrive from Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Europe, and Arab countries, with the share of Russian visitors increasing slightly in recent months.
Khidesheli said summer rates have risen by approximately 10–15% this year. The business is also planning a $25,000 expansion project that will add two new rooms, increasing total capacity to 17 guests. He identified infrastructure challenges, including the absence of natural gas service and frequent power outages, as key obstacles for tourism development in the area.
