General Information about Georgia
Georgia is situated in the South Caucasus, between latitudes 41° and 44° N, and longitudes 40° and 47° E, with an area of 67,900 km2. It is a very mountainous country. The Likhi Range divides the country into eastern and western halves. Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia. Because of a complex geographic setting, mountains also isolate the northern region of Svaneti from the rest of Georgia.
The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range forms the northern border of Georgia. The main roads through the mountain range into Russian territory lead through the Roki Tunnel between Shida Kartli and North Ossetia and the Darial Gorge. The Roki Tunnel was vital for the Russian military in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War because it is the only direct route through the Caucasus Mountains. The southern portion of the country is bounded by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range is much higher in elevation than the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with the highest peaks rising more than 5,000 meters above sea level.
The highest mountain in Georgia is Mount Shkhara at 5,068 meters, and the second highest is Mount Janga at 5,059 m above sea level. Other prominent peaks include Mount Kazbek at 5,047 m, Shota Rustaveli 4,860 m, Tetnuldi 4,858 m, Mt. Ushba 4,700 m, and Ailama 4,547 m. Out of the above-mentioned peaks, only Kazbek is of volcanic origin. The region between Kazbek and Shkhara is dominated by numerous glaciers. Out of the 2,100 glaciers that exist in the Caucasus today, approximately 30% are located within Georgia.
TOURISM
Tourism in Georgia is an important component of the economy of Georgia. International tourism is a rapidly growing industry. In 2015 it employed around 158,500 people, producing 6.7% of Georgia’s GDP and providing US$1.94 billion of revenue. 2016’s tourists numbers reached a record high of 2,720,970 people. In 2017, international tourist arrivals increased again, reaching 3,478,932, with an expected annual revenue of US$2.73 billion. The expenditures of foreign visitors to Georgia have a significant effect on the balance of payments, and approximately 64.3% of Georgia’s service export revenue comes from tourism. International tourists stay an average of 6.5 days.
The official body tasked with promoting tourism to Georgia is the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA). In 2016, the GNTA participated in 21 international and domestic tourism fairs, conducted marketing campaigns on 16 target markets, and hosted 99 press and familiarization trips.