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In January – December, 2017 the number of international arrivals in Georgia amounted to 7,554,936, showing an increase of 18.8% compared to the same period of previous year. Out of the total number of visits, 3,478,932 lasted longer than 24 hours (+ 27.9%). The majority of foreign travelers were Armenian (+14.8%), Azerbaijanian (+11.2%), Russian (+34.1%), Turkish (-0.8%) and Iranian (+118.3%).
A positive trend in arrivals was also observed among citizens of the European Union countries. A notable increase was registered of British +39.9%, Dutchman +31.1%, Spanish +29.9%, French +29.6% and German +25.7% travelers. Exceptional growth in arrivals was recorded of citizens of the following countries: Jordan +316.1%, Saudi Arabia +164.6%, Kuwait +154.3%, Iran +118.3%, India +64.1% and China +54%.
TOP 15 countries
The majority of foreign travelers were from these 15 countries:
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | Change % |
| Armenia | 1,496,437 | 1,718,016 | 14.8 |
| Azerbaijan | 1,523,703 | 1,694,998 | 11.2 |
| Russia | 1,038,750 | 1,392,610 | 34.1 |
| Turkey | 1,256,561 | 1,246,745 | 0.8 |
| Iran | 147,937 | 322,938 | 118.3 |
| Ukraine | 174,858 | 193,002 | 10.4 |
| Israel | 92,215 | 125,319 | 35.9 |
| India | 36,410 | 59,732 | 64.1 |
| Kazakhstan | 48,849 | 56,765 | 16.2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 21,257 | 56,247 | 164.6 |
| Poland | 44,436 | 52,284 | 17.7 |
| Germany | 40,915 | 51,445 | 25.7 |
| Belarus | 37,110 | 47,984 | 29.3 |
| U S A | 34,250 | 42,645 | 24.5 |
| United Kingdom | 19,198 | 26,852 | 39.9 |
Countries with minimal visitors
Puerto Rico, French Guiana, Vanuatu, Reunion – from each of these countries only 2 visitors arrived in Georgia during 2017.
Types of Visits
46 % of tourists stayed in Georgia for 24 and more hours.
| Type of Visit | 2016 | 2017 |
| 24 hours and | 2,720,970 | 3,478,932 |
| Transit | 1,321,344 | 1,687,289 |
| Same-day visit | 2,318,189 | 2,388,715 |
Border Types
77.8 % of tourists entered the country from land border and only 0.5% of them used sea border.
| Border Type | 2016 | 2017 |
| Land | 5182780 | 5880354 |
| Air | 1066597 | 1565264 |
| Railway | 60389 | 73385 |
| Sea | 50737 | 35933 |
Borders
Arrivals by Borders :
| საზღვარი | 2016 | 2017 |
| Sadakhlo | 1,164,810 | 1,349,403 |
| Sarpi | 1,262,799 | 1,288,915 |
| Airport Tbilisi | 845,874 | 1,247,605 |
| Tsiteli Khidi | 1,164,495 | 1,230,726 |
| Kazbegi | 931,924 | 1,183,987 |
| Tsodna | 198,558 | 224,163 |
| Ninotsminda | 193,544 | 214,227 |
| Airport Batumi | 129,718 | 208,845 |
| Vale | 108,561 | 159,013 |
| Airport Kutaisi | 91,005 | 108,814 |
| Vakhtangisi | 68,770 | 82,720 |
| Kartsakhi | 46,003 | 77,794 |
| Guguti | 42,494 | 68,516 |
| Railway Gardabani | 28,385 | 37,361 |
| Railway Sadakhlo | 32,004 | 36,024 |
| Port Poti | 25,786 | 18,373 |
| Port Batumi | 22,694 | 15,773 |
| Port Kulevi | 2,257 | 1,787 |
| Samtatskaro | 499 | 498 |
| Akhkerpi | 323 | 392 |
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The Source of the article is Georgian National Tourism Administration.
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