Georgia hits 5.5 million tourist visits as protests mark two-year anniversary

Tbilisi hosts two simultaneous realities as the political crisis reaches its second anniversary. While demonstrators march through the Armenian quarter every Saturday, the country recorded more than 5.5 million international tourist visits in 2025. The Georgian National Tourism Administration reports this figure represents an 8.4% increase over 2024 and is nearly ten times the roughly 560,000 visitors who came two decades ago.

The anniversary dates to Monday, two years after the contested parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024. Protests began two days later and peaked on November 28, 2024, when the government declared it would not place the opening of EU negotiations on its agenda before the end of 2028. Crowds continue to gather in Avlabari Square, moving toward Freedom Square and parliament to challenge the leadership of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Critics target Georgian Dream, the party in power since 2012, for what they view as growing authoritarianism and a pivot toward Moscow. The party suspended EU accession talks in 2024, despite Georgia receiving candidate status in 2023. This decision has drawn criticism from Brussels, which recently cited rule of law and political repression concerns in its assessment of the government.

Tourists arrive from Europe, the Middle East, and large numbers of Russians. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tens of thousands of Russian citizens relocated to Georgia. They opened businesses and purchased homes, exerting strong pressure on the property market. This influx fuels local discontent among a population that views Russia as an occupying power following the early 1990s wars and the August 2008 conflict.

The economy shows resilience despite these tensions. GDP rose by 7.5% in 2025, marking five consecutive years of expansion. Trade, tourism, remittances, and energy imports from Russia continue to prop up the nation. However, the country of fewer than 4 million people still faces unemployment, low wages, and widespread poverty in many rural areas.

Geopolitical pressures further complicate the domestic picture. Diplomatic relations with Moscow were severed after the 2008 conflict, yet economic ties remain deep. Relations with the EU have deteriorated recently. Many observers link Georgia's future to the outcome of the war in Ukraine, viewing a strengthened Moscow as a greater threat to the Caucasus region.

The next major milestone is the two-year anniversary of the elections, marking the duration of the ongoing standoff. Protests are expected to continue their weekly schedule in Tbilisi. The government faces continued pressure to clarify its path regarding European integration and its relationship with Russia.