The founder and chairman of the supervisory board of tour operator GASA, Giorgi Shengelia, says that due to the current situation in the Middle East, travel package sales to several destinations have been suspended. In an interview with BMG, he noted that both outbound and inbound tours have been cancelled.
According to Shengelia, sales have stopped for destinations where airspace has been closed, and tourists from those countries have also cancelled trips to Georgia. He added that many travel groups scheduled in both directions have been cancelled.
“Because of the military developments, sales have been suspended to destinations where the airspace is closed. Tourist arrivals from these countries to Georgia have also stopped. No one is planning trips even for the distant future. Many groups have been cancelled, both outgoing and incoming,” Shengelia said.
He noted that destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Thailand had been particularly popular among Georgian travelers. Meanwhile, all incoming trips from Israel, the UAE and Iran have been cancelled, including large groups and conferences scheduled until April.
Despite the current situation, Shengelia expressed hope that tourist flows will recover soon, adding that tourism companies are maintaining close coordination with partners, suppliers and airlines to navigate the crisis with minimal losses.
