Epress.am News from Armenia
Despite a 43% increase in the number of tourists to Georgia this year as compared to the same period last year, several travel agencies state that an increase in the flow of tourists in the future is not expected. The reason? Hotels along the Black Sea coast have decided to raise their rates for the summer season.
Fresh Travel, for instance, notes that the rise in service rates will seriously affect the number of tourists.
“Our company primarily services [tourists from] Israel, and currently the situation can be considered positive. There’s interest and the number of orders has increased. However, if the price of services in hotels increases and this trend continues, our customers probably will cancel their reservations and go to Europe. And without that, the transportation is expensive because of fuel, and if we add the price of services, they won’t come here,” Fresh Travel representatives told news source Business Resonance.
Levon Travel also argues that the higher prices will lead to negative consequences and the number of tourists will decrease.
“When a holiday in Spain can cost half the price of going to Georgia, why come here for a holiday? Georgia is known for being expensive in the tourism sector and if current prices rise further, naturally, many will lose their desire to come here,” said a company representative.
However, another travel agency, Georgia Holiday (name in English could not be confirmed), predicts that higher prices won’t prevent the arrival of tourists. “Whoever wants to holiday in Georgia, will still come.”