Management of Martvili and Okatse Canyons: 75%-80% of Tourists Come from Post-Soviet Countries

"We closed our services on November 8, 2020, amid the pandemic. We had an approximately 6-month compulsory break. We resumed operation on May 26”, Zaza Gagua, director of the Mrtvili and Okatse Canyons noted. The tourist inflows exceeded our expectations. We have already regained 55%-60% of the 2019 load, he said.

“Today, 20-25% of tourists are Georgian citizens; the remaining part comes from foreign countries, primarily from Post-soviet countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. We also host many guests from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, including from Israel”, Zaza Gagua said. In 2019, Georgian visitors constituted 40% and international visitors were the remaining part. The inflow of Georgian tourists to Okatse and Martvili Canyons will traditionally increase in August, he said.

‘In general, in the pre-pandemic period, we used to receive visitors on any season. Amid the pandemic in November 2020, we had to close the business. We will host visitors in any season if there are no obligatory restrictions. In general, the May-October period is the most loaded and active period. We are set to introduce new attractions for our visitors every year. Despite frustrations amid the pandemic, soon we will introduce ziplines, hung bridges, horse riding, and other new services to more motivate our guests to stay at domestic hotels and guesthouses”, Gagua said. Different tariffs run for foreign and domestic visitors at Okatse and Martvili Canyons: entrance fee for domestic visitors is GEL 19. Boat services for domestic guests cost GEL 15 GEL. The same services for foreign visitors cost GEL 17.