This niche country with Russian and European characteristics is attracting Chinese tourists through multiple measures, and Chinese citizens are exempt from visas

Introduction: Georgian Minister of Economy Davytashvili said, "China is the world's largest tourism market, and perhaps the most coveted market for everyone."

Travel blogger Whale has just returned from a trip to Georgia. Although the process of handling Georgia visa is not troublesome, he joked that he still felt a little sad about the visa fee when he received the message of visa free.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Georgian Prime Minister Kalibashvili announced on the 11th that Georgia will grant visa free treatment to Chinese citizens from now on, and the relevant details will be announced soon.

"Cancelling a visa is both about simplifying procedures and saving money. Compared to some countries, Georgian visas are relatively simple and the visa cost is not high, only $20. However, visa exemption is clearly more advantageous for travelers," Whale told First Financial reporters.

Following the trend of visa free travel, the Director of Georgia's National Tourism Administration, Omiaze, announced on the 12th that the agency is negotiating with China to increase flights and schedules, and is actively planning promotional activities to attract Chinese tourists. She said that Chinese tourists are "very popular" in Georgia because they are "active tourists known for their long travel time, wide range, and high consumption.".

Xinhua News Agency image

Expected to increase flights

Whale introduction: "There are currently no direct flights to Georgia. I am traveling from Beijing to Almaty, then connecting to Tbilisi, or connecting from other countries. The flight time is less than 10 hours, but some flights have long connecting times."

At present, China Southern Airlines has a direct round-trip route from Urumqi to Tbilisi, departing from China on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. There is also a flight returning from Tbilisi on the same day.

It is reported that the Georgian Ministry of Economy, Dmitry Davyashvili, stated at a press conference after the weekly government meeting that the Georgian government is communicating with Chinese airlines, including Southern Airlines, to increase flights to Georgia.

"There will be at least one flight coming from China every day. However, this is not enough. Our goal is to increase to 10 flights per day, which will have an impact on Georgia's domestic economy." Davitashvili added, "China is the world's largest tourism market, and perhaps the most desirable market for everyone."

In Georgia, whales stayed for ten days and traveled to cities with different landscapes such as Tbilisi, Kazbek, Mestia, and Batumi, experiencing the local customs and traditions in depth.

"I highly recommend going to Tbilisi, which has a mixed European and Russian atmosphere, but the cost is lower than that of first tier cities in China, and the language barrier is relatively small. Tbilisi can be considered a mountain city in Georgia, and it is also very culturally free," he said.

Whales also have a good impression of Mestia. "I would recommend going here more than Karzbek. It is very famous among European backpackers, as it offers two breathtaking cable cars from the foot of the mountain to the snow capped mountains, where you can taste natural sparkling water and see many plants that are different from the plains. The altitude is not high, but you can experience the beauty of the plateau. However, Whale added that mountainous cities like Karzbek and Mestia have incomplete road construction, which may require a high time cost for tourists who only stay in these cities for one night to reach.".

He introduced that Georgia has relatively low costs and a diet that is more suitable for the "Chinese stomach", but some of the scenery also has a sense of familiarity. For example, he saw many Chinese restaurants and Chinese supermarkets in the coastal city of Batumi.

"Many of the facilities on Batumi Square are made in China, and as you walk, you can hear the theme song of Pleasant Goat and the interweaving of Canon, which is also very unique. Batumi has a wild beauty in the whale's heart." The beach is filled with stones without fine sand, so it is actually not suitable for going into the sea. But the Black Sea is beautiful, with dark blue in the morning and light green in the evening, suitable for walking around. "

Tourism and Agriculture

According to data updated by the World Bank in April this year, Georgia's per capita gross national income has gradually approached the EU average level in the past decade, increasing from $3048 in 2010 to $4608 in 2021. The World Bank stated that Georgia has a high degree of trade openness and is more dependent on the tourism industry. According to reports, Georgia received $3.5 billion in direct revenue from the tourism industry in 2022, and the Georgian government expects it to reach $4-4.5 billion by 2023.

Regarding Georgia's economic level, Whale observed: "Tbilisi is a gathering place for digital nomads, with many open workspaces and very friendly to remote workers. However, if you look closely at the prosperity of Tbilisi, the shopping malls in the city center may be almost the same as those in second - and third tier cities in China."

According to data from the World Bank, over one-third of Georgia's workforce is engaged in agriculture. Among them, red wine manufacturing is one of the main industries, and Georgia distributes over 100 million bottles of wine overseas every year, exporting to countries such as the UK, the US, Canada, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.

A Chinese distributor of Georgian wine told First Financial reporters that Georgia is the birthplace of wine and is rich in wine. Compared with the well-known French wine, it relies more on traditional craftsmanship, resulting in a significant difference in taste and high cost-effectiveness compared to French wine.

However, he also acknowledges that Georgian wine is currently relatively niche in China, so he particularly looks forward to visa free travel, which can attract more Chinese tourists to Georgia and learn about Georgia's advantageous agricultural products.