Russian tourist flow to Georgia and Armenia followed contrasting paths over the first nine months of 2024, reported by the Russian Union of the Travel Industry (RUTI).

Georgia experienced a remarkable surge, with a 447.8% increase, reaching 184.6 thousand Russian visitors. In contrast, Armenia saw a decline, receiving 250.9 thousand tourists compared to 335.9 thousand during the same timeframe last year.

Despite these shifts, both Georgia and Armenia continue to rank among the top ten destinations for Russian travelers, joining popular spots such as Turkey, the UAE, Egypt, China, Thailand, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan.

Following the resumption of direct flights between Russia and Georgia in May 2023, Georgia has seen a substantial boost in its tourism industry, marking one of the highest growth rates among regional destinations. This renewed accessibility has made Georgia a more convenient and attractive destination for Russian tourists, fueling a surge in travel to the country and contributing significantly to its tourism economy.

Meanwhile, Armenia has observed a decline in tourist numbers, which may be partly due to Russian travelers bypassing Armenia as a transit point. With direct flights now readily available, many travelers are choosing to fly straight to their intended destinations, leading to a decrease in Armenia’s transit-based tourism revenue. This shift in travel patterns reflects the broader impact of direct connectivity on regional tourism dynamics.

Across all destinations, Russians made a total of 8.7 million trips abroad within the reported period, marking a 23.2% rise from the previous year. While this increase signals a gradual rebound in international travel, the figure remains notably lower than the pre-pandemic level of 14.2 million trips in 2019.

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