Racha’s summer tourism season started later than usual this year, but visitor activity in July and August surpassed previous years, according to Gvantsa Kruashvili, founder of the “Kesane – Forget Me Not” restaurant. She said poor weather and other factors kept visitor numbers low in spring and June.
Kruashvili noted that the concentration of tourists in August creates challenges for local hospitality businesses, which have limited capacity. She said a more sustainable model would spread visitor flows across at least six months instead of creating a sharp peak in one month followed by a decline.
Although tourism traditionally drops sharply in Racha from late August, some visitor activity continued into September this year. Businesses are now watching to see whether the increased interest in the region will continue through the autumn.
Kruashvili also highlighted Racha’s untapped potential for harvest-season tourism. Unlike Kakheti, where autumn is supported by wine-related activities and harvest traditions, Racha has few organized events to attract visitors during the grape harvest. She said the region has strong potential, including wineries, vineyards and scenic autumn landscapes, which could help restaurants and accommodation businesses extend the season into September and October.
