Tbilisi

Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of Georgia, expects the number of tourists reach 2 000 000 by the end of the year; and in 2013 - to exceed the number of population.

According to his calculations, in 5 years Georgia will be visited by 10 000 000 tourists.

The figures were voiced at meeting in Batumi with the Minister of Economy Vera Kobalia, Rachi governor David Gagoshidze; Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti governor Zaza Gorozia; chairman of Ajaria's government Levan Varshalomidze; and chairperson of the Department for Tourism and Resorts, Maya Sidamonidze. 

This year Ajaria was visited by 718 000 tourists. According to Varshalomidze, the rate includes only those, who stayed in hotels, but should private sector be considered, the figure will be over 900 000.

Kobalia was speaking at a meeting with President Saakashvili, who was discussing Georgia’s tourism infrastructure development with a group of senior officials in Black Sea resort of Batumi.

President Saakashvili said, that although the country in general had liberal economic course, “liberalization” in issues related with safety “is unacceptable and a mistake.”

He said that the government should submit to the Parliament relevant legislation “to make all the aviation safety norms strict.”

Georgia and EU finalized air services agreement in March, 2010. The agreement, however, has yet to be signed. The agreement aims to integrate Georgia into a wider European Common Aviation Area. Under the agreement, Georgia will have to harmonize its legislation with European standards and implement EU aviation rules in areas such as aviation safety, security, environment, consumer protection, air traffic management, economic regulation and competition issues.

Passenger traffic between the EU and Georgia has increased by an average of 10% per year over the past five years whereas cargo traffic in the same period has increased by an annual average of no less than 26% over the past five years.

Georgia Times Civil Georgia