Deputy Economy Minister deems Shanghai priority route

“Shanghai is a priority route for us since it represents the financial and economic centre,” said Tamar Ioseliani, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, remarking on the launch of Shanghai-Tbilisi direct flights operated by China Eastern Airlines.

According to Ioseliani, Shanghai is a hub in Asia providing the opportunity to link with other destinations. She also emphasized that connectivity with China in the aviation sector is very positive.

“Three Chinese air companies operate on the Georgian air market with 13 frequencies per week. This opportunity will allow us to deepen business relations, people-to-people ties, and attract tourists, which will be an additional source of revenues for our economy,” she said.

Tamar Ioseliani focused on increased tourist flows.

“We are seeing a very positive trend in the first quarter, and, one could say, in the first half of the year as well: overall passenger traffic has increased by approximately 50%, and there has been a 44% increase in tourist traffic. Last year, we observed an increase of 45%. There is a growing tendency, contributed by visa-free travel, and the campaigns implemented by the National Tourism Administration on the Chinese market.

Marketing campaigns worth approximately 7 million GEL have been launched, helping to raise awareness of Georgia, and this is already being reflected in the figures. I am confident that the new air link will also provide an opportunity to deepen our relations and, respectively, attract tourists and deepen business relations with Shanghai and the People’s Republic of China,” she said.