Georgia, Tbilisi, August 30 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was interested in the number tourists visiting Georgia this year meeting with Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Vera Kobalia, Racha Governor David Gagoshidze, Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Governor Zaza Goroziya, chairman of Adjara Government Levan Varshalomidze and chairman of the Georgian Department of Tourism and Resorts Maya Sidamonidze.
David Gagoshidze said that about 160,000 people visited Racha this year, of whom 2,500 were foreigners - Ukrainians, Belorussians and Spaniards.
"There were not so many tourists in Racha long ago. Five resorts fully worked. About 1,200 people rested in Shovi. There were more people in Ambrolauri," he said.
Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti governor Zaza Goroziya reported that the largest number of tourists this year was in Ganmukhuri. A new hotel opened August 1 is constantly full. Every day about 5,000-7,000 people, as well as from Azerbaijan rest in Ganmukhuri.
As to Adjara, roughly 718,000 tourists visited the autonomous republic this year. Adjara's government chairman Levan Varshalomidze said that this index reflects people registered in the hotel. But if we take into account the private sector, the number of tourists will reach 900,000.
The Georgian President directed the participants of the meeting towards the sharp increase in the number of tourists in the coming year. He said that the number of tourists will reach two million by late 2010. The number of tourists should exceed the number of Georgian population by 2013.
"According to our calculations, roughly 10 000 000 tourists will visit Georgia in five years," he said.