What's new in Georgia? | Connecting Travel

With improved connectivity, Georgia is now among the top 10 outbound destinations for GCC travellers

One of Europe’s most exciting destinations, Georgia is a country of many faces, from the bustling Black Sea coastal resort of Batumi to the hiking trails of the rugged Caucasus Mountains and the deep wine cellars of Kakheti.

Here, ancient culture, breathtaking nature and a cosmopolitan capital collide.

Georgia’s highest-ranking attractions, according to travel intelligence firm Mabrian, include atmospheric Tbilisi Old Town, overlooked by Narikala Fortress, Gergeti Glacier and the quaint mountaintop Gergeti Trinity Church, and the snow-kissed slopes of Gudauri Ski Resort.

Georgia National Tourism Administration forecasts 134,064 overnight visitors will travel to Georgia from the GCC in 2024, made easier with a new air route between Kuwait and Batumi starting in June 2024. Nine airlines now operate between Georgia and the GCC.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TOP 10 OUTBOUND DESTINATIONS FOR GCC TRAVELLERS IN THE FREE CONNECTING TRAVEL INSIGHT REPORT

New Attractions
Tbilisi’s King Erekle Bath reopened in September 2023 after extensive renovations. The bathhouse interior is now more modern with a wealth of marble and stone, offering a luxurious spin on the traditional variety.

In October 2023, Kutaisi was welcomed into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, earning recognition as a City of Literature. It will host the Kutaisi International Literary Festival in 2025.

Kutaisi

In 2024, social concept store Eski opened in Tbilisi, a unique boutique that brings together the products of Georgian entrepreneurs under one roof for the first time.

The major upgrade work on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, which links Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, is due to be finished in spring 2024, with the reopening offering renewed potential for trilateral overland tourist travel.

Meanwhile, from September to mid-October 2024, Rtveli – Georgia’s annual wine harvest festival – will offer visitors an immersive experience, picking grapes and witnessing the processing system into the earthenware wine vessels (qvevri), followed by a supra (feast).

Georgia made history by qualifying for UEFA EURO 2024, reaching a major football tournament for the first time. The team’s first game is on 18 June against Turkey

New Hotels
Qarvasla Hotel opened in late 2023, on the site of a heritage building in Tbilisi. The hotel is design-centric with contemporary vibes and features 48 rooms, all with lashings of light. Its restaurant, Bamba, is a favoured hot spot for innovative Georgian cuisine.

With the perfect setting close to Rustaveli Theatre and Tbilisi Opera, the newly-opened Vermont Boutique Hotel offers a more homely approach to hospitality.

Paragraph Resort Ganmukhuri will open in the latter part of 2024 under Marriott International’s Tribute Collection. Located on the Black Sea in the Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti, it will be home to 160 rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, and a spa.

Another Marriott International hotel on the horizon is the 120-key Wellness Resort and Spa Mtsvane Kontskhi, part of the Autograph collection, located next to Batumi Botanical Garden with views of the Black Sea.

The Ambassadori Hotel in Batumi, due to open in 2025, is part of the huge Ambassadori Batumi Island project, the largest investment project in the region. The development will feature shopping malls, public beaches, water parks and a yacht club.

Travel and tourism data intelligence provider Mabrian shared insights on Azerbaijan as an outbound destination for GCC travellers: