First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, met with the heads of Chinese airlines Hainan Airlines, Capital Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines.

Davitashvili emphasized Georgia’s growing popularity as a tourist destination, positively impacted civil aviation. More than 60 airlines operate in Georgia, conducting over 100 regular flights to more than 30 countries.

Among these, China Southern Airlines currently operates daily flights between Tbilisi and Urumqi, while Air China is set to enter the Georgian market in the fall, offering flights from both Urumqi and Beijing.

The First Vice Prime Minister underscored Georgia’s interest in expanding flights from additional Chinese cities, as this would further strengthen tourism and economic ties between the two countries. He highlighted the benefits of visa-free travel for Chinese citizens and the increasing frequency of direct flights, which have led to a significant rise in tourists from China.

In 2023, Georgia saw a 555% increase in Chinese visitors compared to the previous year, and this figure grew by 423% in the first two quarters of 2024.