5.5 million tourists visit Georgia as domestic political crisis enters second year
While Tbilisi streets remain a site for weekend demonstrations against the ruling party, international visitor numbers hit a record high in 2025.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
In the Armenian quarter of Tbilisi, crowds gather every weekend in Avlabari Square for the "Saturday March." Protesters walk toward the Bridge of Love, pass through Freedom Square, and continue toward parliament. They chant slogans directed at the government of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. On Monday, the country will mark two years since the contested parliamentary elections of October 26, 2024, which sparked this ongoing crisis.
The demonstrations target Georgian Dream, the ultraconservative party that has held power since 2012. Critics accuse the party of growing authoritarianism. They also blame its decision to suspend European Union accession talks for moving the country closer to Moscow. Georgia received EU candidate status in 2023. The protest movement peaked on November 28, 2024, when the government stated it would not place the opening of EU negotiations on its agenda before the end of 2028.
Despite the political unrest, the country recorded a record number of international tourist visits in 2025. Data from the Georgian National Tourism Administration shows more than 5.5 million visitors arrived. This figure represents an 8.4 percent increase compared to 2024. It is nearly ten times the number of visitors recorded two decades ago, which stood at approximately 560,000. The influx includes travelers from Europe, the Middle East, and large numbers from Russia.
The arrival of Russian tourists and residents has created specific economic pressures. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tens of thousands of Russian citizens relocated to Georgia. They brought capital and opened businesses. However, their presence has exerted strong pressure on the property market. Many bought homes across the country. This trend fuels discontent among a population that views Russia as an occupying power, recalling the early 1990s wars in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the August 2008 conflict.
Georgia is a republic roughly the size of Ireland with a population of fewer than 4 million. It emerged from the Soviet Union in 1991. The country sits between Russia and Turkey, alongside Armenia and Azerbaijan. Its attractions include mountain villages along the Georgian Military Road, ancient Orthodox churches, and post-Soviet cities. The port city of Batumi on the Black Sea offers a lively atmosphere, while Tbilisi features a rich underground scene and repurposed industrial spaces. The capital's Rustaveli theatre, a symbol of national independence, was renovated 20 years ago by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili founded Georgian Dream in 2012 and served as prime minister from 2012 to 2013.
The relationship between Georgia and Russia remains defined by contradiction. Diplomatic relations were severed after the 2008 conflict, which consolidated Russian military control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These regions account for approximately 20 percent of Georgian territory. Economically, however, Moscow remains a key partner. Trade, tourism, remittances, and energy imports support the Georgian economy. GDP rose by 7.5 percent in 2025, marking five consecutive years of expansion. Despite this growth, the economy continues to face challenges including unemployment, low wages, widespread poverty, and depopulation in many rural areas.
Relations with Brussels have deteriorated recently. The EU has criticized the Georgian government's record on the rule of law and political repression. Many observers believe a strengthening of Moscow in the Ukraine war could increase its ability to exert pressure on the Caucasus. The future of a vulnerable Georgia, which is internationally isolated and has limited domestic support, may depend on the fate of Ukraine.
