MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mariam Kvrivishvili, participated in the Ministerial held within the framework of the AIM Congress (Annual Investment Meeting), which was organized by the government of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. The event was held with the joint support of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and was attended by tourism ministers and high-ranking officials from various countries, including Bahrain, Montenegro, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

During her speech at the discussion held within the Ministerial, Mariam Kvrivishvili emphasized Georgia’s sustainable economic growth, ongoing structural and economic reforms, and the government policy aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the country. The Deputy Minister also focused on the tourism promotion strategy, a component of which is the construction and development of the country’s land and air infrastructure. According to Kvrivishvili, the proper functioning of this infrastructure contributes to connectivity, which positively affects both the tourism industry directly and the country’s economy in general.

“The targeted and effective policy of the Georgian government has contributed to the growth of our country’s recognition as an attractive tourist destination, which ultimately has a positive impact on tourism statistics. The increase in the number of international travelers is also driven by increased investment in tourism, the creation of new bed spaces, the introduction of liberal visa regimes, and the open skies policy in aviation, among others,” – the Deputy Minister noted.

Mariam Kvrivishvili stated that the revenues generated from the tourism sector strengthen the country’s economy. According to Kvrivishvili, the sector’s contribution to the national economy is growing annually; in 2024, revenues from international tourism increased by 300 million USD, or 7,3%, reaching 4,4 billion USD. In the Deputy Minister’s assessment, tourism is one of the most attractive sectors for investment, which is facilitated by the government’s policy aimed at strengthening investment opportunities in the sector.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted authoritative international rankings, including the World Bank’s “Business READY,” which says that Georgia is among the top three of the world’s 50 countries. Kvrivishvili also touched upon the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) “Investment Policy Review” and the Fraser Institute’s “World Economic Freedom 2024” ranking, where Georgia is an undisputed leader among all EU candidate countries and countries in the wider region.