Georgia Tourism Tops 5.5 Million Visits Amidst Two-Year Political Standoff

Georgia received more than 5.5 million international tourists in 2025, according to data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration. This figure represents an 8.4% increase over the previous year and is nearly ten times the number of visitors recorded two decades ago.

The record arrival coincided with the second anniversary of a political crisis that began after contested parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024. Protests started two days later and peaked on 28 November of that year. At that time, the government announced it would not place the opening of EU negotiations on its agenda before the end of 2028.

The current standoff centers on Georgian Dream, the party that has governed since 2012. Critics accuse the ultraconservative group of growing authoritarianism and moving the country closer to Moscow by suspending EU accession talks. Georgia received EU candidate status in 2023, but relations with Brussels have deteriorated recently due to concerns over the rule of law and political repression.

Every weekend, crowds gather in Tbilisi’s Armenian quarter at Avlabari Square for the Saturday March. Protesters march toward the Bridge of Love, reach Freedom Square, and head to parliament. They chant slogans against the government of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The movement has become one of the longest sustained protest efforts in recent history.

The surge in tourism is driven by visitors from Europe, the Middle East, and large numbers of Russians. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tens of thousands of Russian citizens relocated to Georgia. These new residents brought capital and opened businesses, which increased pressure on the property market as they purchased homes across the country.

This influx has fueled discontent among Georgians who view Russia as an occupying power. This sentiment stems from the early 1990s wars against Russian-backed separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the August 2008 conflict. Following the 2008 war, diplomatic relations were severed after Russian military control consolidated over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions that account for approximately 20% of Georgian territory.

Despite the political tension, Moscow remains a key economic partner. Trade, tourism, remittances, Russian capital, and energy imports support the Georgian economy. GDP rose by 7.5% in 2025, marking five consecutive years of expansion. However, the economy still faces challenges including unemployment, low wages, widespread poverty, and depopulation in rural areas.

The country, which has a population of fewer than 4 million, is roughly the size of Ireland. It emerged from the Soviet Union in 1991. Tourists are drawn to its historic sites, including ancient Orthodox churches, mountain villages along the Georgian Military Road, and the cosmopolitan capital of Tbilisi. The Rustaveli theatre, renovated 20 years ago by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, serves as a symbol of national independence. Ivanishvili served as prime minister from 2012 to 2013 and founded Georgian Dream.

The domestic crisis reflects wider geopolitical tensions. Many believe a strengthening of Moscow in the Ukraine war could increase its ability to exert pressure on the Caucasus. Georgia finds itself internationally isolated with limited domestic support for the current direction of government policy.

The next major milestone for the protest movement is the two-year anniversary of the October 2024 elections, which falls on Monday. This date marks the start of the sustained demonstrations that have defined the current political landscape in Tbilisi.