Georgia recorded 1.3 million international visitors in the second quarter of 2026, marking a 5.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, according to data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) published by Batumelebi. Tourism revenue also declined with total spending by these visitors dropping 13.3% year-on-year to 3.0 billion Georgian Lari (GEL). Average expenditure per visit fell by 9.2%, reaching 1,922.1 GEL.
Visitor Demographics and Travel Purpose
Russian citizens led visitor nationality figures with 380,100 arrivals, followed by 287,000 visitors from Turkey and 199,600 from Armenia. Among all entrants, 81.5% stayed overnight, 14.8% were same-day visitors, and 3.8% fell into both
categories. Visitors aged 31 to 50 composed the largest age group at 45.6%. Male travelers represented 57.1% of all visitors while females accounted for 42.9%.
Regarding travel purpose, 49.6% of visitors came for holiday, leisure, and recreation, 25.6% to see friends and relatives, and 12% were transit visitors passing through Georgia.
Key Destinations within Georgia
The capital city, Tbilisi, attracted 36.9% of all international visits, making it the leading destination in the country. The Autonomous Republic of Adjara was the second most visited location, with 26.2% of arrivals spending time there.
Visitor Experience: Satisfaction and Stay
Despite the downturn in arrivals and revenue, visitor satisfaction remained high with 93.1%
of surveyed tourists expressing satisfaction—54.4% were very satisfied and 38.7% satisfied. The average length of stay increased from 5.30 nights in Q2 2025 to 5.48 nights in Q2 2026. Repeat visits accounted for 81.8% of all visits, indicating strong return preferences among international travelers to Georgia.
Tourism Sector Context
The tourism sector in Georgia reversed prior growth trends with declines in both visitor numbers and revenue in early 2026. Despite the declines, Russian tourists remained the largest visitor group. The majority of visits were by repeat visitors, indicating a consistent preference to return to Georgia as reported by Geostat and published by Batumelebi.
