Azerbaijani tourists generated $107.6 million in revenue for Georgia’s tourism sector during the first half of 2026, marking a 4.9% increase compared to the same period last year, AzerNEWS reports, citing the National Bank of Georgia.
Day: July 21, 2026
Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s central thoroughfare and the main site of protests in Georgia, will undergo full rehabilitation beginning on July 23, with traffic closed for the duration of the works, which are expected to be completed by the end of November, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced on July 21.
According to Kaladze, vehicular traffic will be fully closed on Rustaveli Avenue, as well as the adjacent section of Merab Kostava Street. The rehabilitation will cover the approximately two-kilometer stretch between Tamar Chovelidze Street and Liberty Square.
The start of the works comes amid ongoing anti-government protests on Rustaveli Avenue outside the Parliament building, where demonstrators have rallied daily against the ruling Georgian Dream government since November 28, 2024, when it announced it was suspending the country’s EU accession process until 2028. The daily demonstrations have recently passed 600 days.
Kaladze said the project fulfils one of his pre-election promises, describing Rustaveli Avenue as the capital’s “visiting card” that should become “a modern, safe, and comfortable space.”
“Rustaveli Avenue is our capital’s visiting card, both visually and historically, which has seen a lot of joy, victory, pain, or grief, and it must be well-ordered and modern, so that visitors coming to our country, as well as the local population, can feel a sense of pride,” Kaladze said.
The mayor said previous tenders had failed because no companies submitted bids, but that a contractor has now been selected. According to Business Media Georgia (bm.ge), Tbilisi City Hall earlier this month awarded the GEL 20 million rehabilitation contract to LLC Smart Solutions, the sole bidder in the procurement process.
Kaladze said the project will include replacing water, sewerage, storm drainage, and gas infrastructure, moving overhead utility lines underground, installing underground waste containers, renewing sidewalks and asphalt, upgrading street lighting to LED systems, restoring green spaces, installing pedestrian crossings, road signs and lane markings, and improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
The works, to be carried out by Tbilisi City Hall’s Urban Infrastructure Development Service, are expected to be completed within four months, by the end of November.
The announcement comes as the anti-government demonstrations continue on Rustaveli Avenue, a historic protest site, despite declining participation and a series of legislative changes restricting protest activity. The current rules prohibit not only blocking traffic road but also obstructing the “free movement of people,” extending the offense to pedestrian areas.
Several protesters have been sent administrative detention after courts found them guilty of obstructing pedestrian movement while demonstrating on the sidewalk outside Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue.
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Tourist arrivals in Armenia reach record high
Armenia‘s tourism sector has reported a new record. The country welcomed 1.042 million tourists in the first half of 2026. According to Sona Hovhannisyan, head of the International Cooperation Department, the number of tourists who visited Armenia between January and June was 14.8% higher than during the same period last year.
Although this is the highest figure on record, the Tourism Committee expects to break the record again by the end of the year. Officials expect the number of tourists to surpass last year’s total of 2.2 million visitors.
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Main sources of tourist arrivals
According to the Tourism Committee, visitors from Russia, Georgia and Iran have made up the largest share of tourists travelling to Armenia for many years. As of June this year, that pattern had not changed. The figures are as follows:
- Around 40% of all visitors came from Russia,
- 15% from Georgia,
- 8% from Iran.
Compared with the three leading source markets, visitor numbers from other countries remain relatively low. According to Sona Hovhannisyan, head of the International Cooperation Department, several factors explain why tourists from these countries account for the largest share of arrivals:
“Iran and Georgia are Armenia’s closest neighbours, while Armenia has historical ties with Russia. It is also important that people can travel to Armenia from these countries relatively quickly. The presence of Armenian diaspora communities in these countries also plays a role.”
Hovhannisyan said countries with direct flights to Armenia, as well as those whose citizens benefit from simplified visa rules, have seen growing numbers of visitors. She cited China as an example, saying the sharp increase in Chinese tourists followed the launch of direct flights between Urumqi and Yerevan, along with the introduction of a visa-free regime.
Hovhannisyan also explained what has driven growth from other countries:
“The significant increase in the number of tourists from Italy is due to the expansion of flights between our countries. The same factor has influenced arrivals from Germany, where visitor numbers had previously declined. The launch of a direct flight from Kazakhstan has also boosted tourist flows.”
Armenia has also recently become a more popular destination for tourists from Spain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Hovhannisyan said visitor numbers from those countries remain well below the figures for Russia. However, she added that the recent launch of direct flights between London and Yerevan gives reason for optimism.
“The peak tourism season is gradually getting longer”
Armenia usually sees the highest number of tourist arrivals during the summer and in September and October. Activity typically begins to slow towards the end of November. According to Hovhannisyan, however, the peak season is gradually becoming longer. She said more tourists are now choosing to visit the country during the winter months.
“It is encouraging to see growing activity during the winter as well. The government is taking steps to support this trend. If this January’s record figures are sustained and become the norm, we can expect strong tourism for almost the entire year.”
Trade fairs and other PR efforts to attract tourists
The Tourism Committee is running a number of programmes to make Armenia a more attractive destination on the international tourism market.
According to Diana Karapetyan, head of the Marketing Department, Armenia showcased national pavilions at major tourism fairs in Spain, Germany, Romania and Russia this year.
“By the end of the year, we plan to take part in several more international events. Armenian tourism companies attending these exhibitions present highly attractive offers. They promote our country’s cultural events, cuisine and tourist attractions. They also offer tastings, distribute brochures and show promotional videos.”
The committee also works with international media outlets, PR agencies, well-known bloggers and influencers. It organises familiarisation trips to Armenia and runs promotional campaigns. Karapetyan said these efforts have led to more frequent coverage of Armenia in the international media, with growing attention to its tourism appeal and potential.
“Armenia has established itself on the global tourism market as a safe and reliable destination,” she said.
Tourist arrivals in Armenia reach record high
Accreditation of Georgia’s ambassador to Germany
Aleksandre Kartozia, who was appointed Georgia‘s ambassador to Germany in September last year, is set to present his credentials to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 23 July.
The information was published on the official website of the German president.
The website lists the ambassadorial accreditation ceremonies scheduled for 23 July. Seven ambassadors are due to present their credentials, with Kartozia first on the programme. According to the schedule, his accreditation ceremony is set to begin at 10:30.
Ambassadors from Chile, Honduras, Nigeria, Mauritania, Madagascar and the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio are also scheduled to be accredited on the same day.
Why is the accreditation important?
Aleksandre Kartozia was appointed Georgia’s ambassador to Germany in September last year, succeeding Levan Izoria, who had served in the post since 2020.
Before an ambassador can officially take up their duties in Germany, they must present their credentials to the country’s president. Only after this ceremony are they formally accredited and able to carry out the full responsibilities of the role. Until now, Kartozia had been awaiting an invitation to present his credentials.
Letters of credence are official documents by which one head of state appoints a diplomat as their representative to another country.
The documents identify the appointed diplomat and their diplomatic rank. They also contain a formal request from the sending head of state to the receiving head of state to “give credence” to everything the diplomat says or does on behalf of their country.
The accreditation also carries added political significance given the strained relationship between Georgia and Germany.
Relations between Tbilisi and Berlin have been tense over the past two years. Senior Georgian officials have repeatedly criticised Germany’s ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, while Germany has voiced concern over developments in Georgia.
There have also been several occasions when the German ambassador was summoned by the Georgian authorities.
On 31 December 2024, Germany imposed entry bans on nine people it said were responsible for violence against protesters and opposition figures in Georgia.
Who is Aleksandre Kartozia?
Aleksandre Kartozia served as Georgia’s education minister from 1998 to 2004 under President Eduard Shevardnadze.
He has worked as a researcher and taught courses and seminars at leading universities in Berlin, Frankfurt and Bremen. In 2022, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
During his tenure as education minister, Kartozia faced corruption allegations. In 2002, Givi Targamadze, a member of Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Council, publicly accused him of corruption. In 2004, prosecutors charged Kartozia and his deputy, Vladimir Sanadze, with abuse of office and the embezzlement of public funds.
Accreditation of Georgia’s ambassador to Germany
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