Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec.29 / Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
In 2010, 2.054.382 tourists visited Georgia. The number of tourists increased by 37 percent, compared to 2009, the Georgian Tourism and Resorts Agency head, Maya Sidamonidze, said at the final press conference of the year.
Most tourists came from Azerbaijan and Turkey. The share of these countries makes 26 percent of the total indicator.
Indications show Russian tourists numbered 8 percent and ranked sixth, while 2 percent, ranking fifth, came from Pakistan. Pakistan is followed by Iran, the U.S., Israel, Germany and Greece.
The city most frequently visited by tourists is Tbilisi. Some 75 percent of visitors first went to become familiar with the sights of the capital. Then followed Batumi with 44 percent, and Mtskheta with 18 percent. After that comes Kutaisi and Gori, getting 10 percent each of visitors, Sighnagi got 8 percent, Kazbegi 7 percent, Bakuriani, Gudauri, Telavi and David Gareji received 3 percent, Uplistsikhe, Mestia, Vardzija and Lagodekhi saw 2 percent.
According to Sidamonidze's estimates, 2010 was a successful year in tourism development.