“To Batumi beaches, to Europe through Kutaisi. First wave of tourists already on their way to Georgia” – was the heading of the article by one of Russia’s most prominent state news agencies – RIA Novosti. The article says that the restoration of direct flights will make Georgia’s airports convenient transit hubs for Russian citizens wishing to fly to third-party countries.
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Following the last year’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union banned direct flights with Russia and closed their airspace to Russian aircraft. This was one of the first sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and the United States.
“More than 30 international flights depart from Kutaisi, often on a budget. 21-50 euros can buy you a ticket to Poland, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Estonia, Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium, and Germany,” reads the RIA article.
The article calls attention to the closer proximity of Kutaisi to Russia, compared to Turkey’s Istanbul or other mainstream hubs. Additionally, Wizz Air is attracting Russian travelers further with a favorable price policy. Russia expects Kutaisi flight traffic to increase.
Russian travel companies talk about “Georgia’s great potential for tourists” – spring and autumn favor educational, gastronomic, wine, and wellness tours, and the winter offers mountain and ski sports in Gudauri, Bakuriani, and the newly-opened Goderdzi resort. According to them, 70% of tourists favor beach destinations in summer.
Artur Muradyan, the head of the Space Travel Company and the vice-president of Tour Operators Association, says that “Georgia’s emergence as a potential travel destination was unexpected, and can cause pleasant surprises.” Companies are already working on tour packages, which, among other things, will include hotels in Batumi and Tbilisi, sightseeing tours, and flights.
In addition, the vice-president of the Tour Operators Association believes that it is important to reduce the “level of political pressure” on the Georgian authorities, which causes many tourists to have second thoughts about vacationing in Georgia.
On May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin canceled a ban on direct flights with Georgia, which he had imposed back on June 21, 2019. He simultaneously issued a decree removing a visa policy, in effect since 2000, for Georgian citizens. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been severed since the Russo-Georgian War of 2008.
The first Moscow-Tbilisi flight in four years was performed on May 19 by Azimuth Airlines and carried 89 passengers. Among them were pro-Russian Georgian politicians, activists, and businessmen – Valeri Kvaratskhelia, Dimitri Lortkipanidze, Merab Chikashvili, and Mamuka Fifia. Chikashvili, who is the chairman of the Solidarity for Peace organization, thanked Putin on behalf of the Georgian population for meeting their request and signing the decree.
From June, another Russian airline Red Wings will direct flights on Sochi-Tbilisi-Sochi and Moscow-Kutaisi-Moscow routes.
Georgian Airways also launched flights to Moscow, for which the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili boycotted the airline.
