In the first quarter of 2026, Georgia delivered an impressive “report card”. According to the latest data from Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the National Statistics Office, real GDP grew by 9.1% year‑on‑year, international tourism revenue reached $829 million, and international arrivals hit a record 997,000 for the first quarter – the highest ever for that period. At the same time, cooperation between China and Georgia in tourism, trade, direct flights and other areas is accelerating, and Chinese tourists’ enthusiasm for visiting Georgia continues to rise.

In this article, we take a deep dive into the core logic and future trends behind these striking figures, and focus on how the boom in tourism is transmitting into the trade sector – providing the important business backdrop for the “Georgia International Trade Exhibition” to be held in Tbilisi from September 26‑28, 2026.

Economic Growth Leads the Region: 9.1% High Growth, Accelerating to Double Digits

From January to March 2026, Georgia’s real GDP grew by 9.1% year‑on‑year, with monthly acceleration:

• January:+7.9%
• February:+8.8%
• March:+10.7% (double‑digit growth)

This performance far exceeds the government’s budget target of 5% set at the start of the year, and is also significantly higher than the full‑year forecasts of the World Bank (5.5%), Asian Development Bank (5.5%) and other institutions.

In terms of growth drivers, manufacturing, information and communication, professional services, mining, construction, and transport & warehousing made outstanding contributions, with real‑economy activity continuing to pick up.

These figures fully demonstrate the inherent resilience of Georgia’s economy: despite external pressures such as the ongoing Middle East conflict and global tourism market volatility, Georgia maintains a robust upward momentum.

How Does Tourism Growth Drive Trade? – The Transmission Logic from “People Flow” to “Commercial Flow”

The prosperity of Georgia’s tourism sector not only directly benefits hotels, catering, transport and other industries, but is also profoundly reshaping the country’s trade structure and business ecosystem. For Chinese companies planning to expand into Georgia and the wider South Caucasus market, the following points are especially critical:

Tourists are “potential buyers” and “channel discoverers”

Among the millions of international tourists visiting Georgia each year, a large number are business travelers from Turkey, the EU and Gulf countries. During their trips, they encounter Georgian local products (wine, agricultural products, textiles, handicrafts, etc.) and may turn into long‑term procurement customers or distribution channels.

Tourism‑driven demand for infrastructure and consumer goods imports

To meet growing tourist demand, Georgia is accelerating the upgrade of airports, hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and transport networks. This directly drives import demand for building materials, furniture, home appliances, hotel equipment, food & beverage packaging, new energy facilities and more – all areas where China’s supply chain excels.

Georgia’s enhanced trade value as a “Eurasian transit hub”

Georgia is home to free industrial zones and ports such as Tbilisi, Batumi and Poti, and has free trade agreements with the EU, Turkey and CIS countries. The tourism boom has further raised Georgia’s international profile, attracting more international trading companies to use Georgia as a strategic springboard into the Caucasus, Central Asia and European markets. Chinese companies can take full advantage of Georgia’s tariff preferences and logistics strengths to export products to a broad market of more than 300 million people in the surrounding region.

Direct China‑Georgia flights will significantly lower business matchmaking costs

The Shanghai–Tbilisi direct flight route will open on July 15, 2026, greatly reducing one‑way travel time. Chinese entrepreneurs will be able to travel to Georgia more conveniently for site inspections, client visits and exhibition participation. Lower business travel costs will directly boost bilateral trade activity.

China‑Georgia Cooperation Heats Up: Direct Flights Open in July, Chinese Tourists Up 44.4%

Shanghai–Tbilisi direct flight opens July 15

In April 2026, Georgian Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Kvirikashvili led a delegation to China and confirmed with China Eastern Airlines that the Shanghai–Tbilisi direct flight will officially launch on July 15, 2026. The minister said: “The Chinese market is of strategic importance to Georgia’s economic development. Direct flights will increase tourist flows, attract more high‑spending tourists, and strengthen people‑to‑people exchanges and economic ties.”

Strategic partnership continues to deepen

1. November 2025:Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze attended the 8th China International Import Expo and made an official visit to China. Both sides reaffirmed their strategic partnership and discussed expanding cooperation in trade, infrastructure, tourism and investment. Georgia participated as a guest of honour, with over 40 enterprises showcasing cultural heritage, traditional wine‑making techniques, tourism potential, etc.
2. April 2026:The two sides signed an updated free trade agreement and agreed to establish an inter‑governmental cooperation framework to support major investment projects and encourage Chinese companies to participate in Georgia’s strategic projects.

Chinese tourists: +44.4% in 2025, strong momentum continuing in 2026

According to the Georgian National Tourism Administration, Georgia received approximately 6.9 million international tourists in 2025, a year‑on‑year increase of 6.2%. Among them, Chinese tourists reached 127,800, a sharp rise of 44.4%, making China one of Georgia’s top ten source countries for the first time.

In the first quarter of 2026, Chinese tourist numbers continued to grow rapidly. With the double benefit of the soon‑to‑open direct flight and the visa‑free policy, the total number of Chinese tourists for the full year is expected to reach a new high.

Georgia Named Official Partner Country of ITB China 2026

On May 26‑28, 2026, ITB China will be held in Shanghai, where Georgia will be the official partner country. The Georgian National Tourism Administration will host a series of events including a themed opening dinner, wine and food tastings, and live cultural performances, fully showcasing Georgia’s unique charm to the Chinese and global markets.

A representative of the Georgian National Tourism Administration noted: “China is one of the world’s most dynamic and promising outbound tourism markets. Our goal is not only to raise awareness, but to build long‑term partnerships with China’s travel industry to develop high‑quality, customised tourism products.”

Seize the Opportunity: Smart Life Expo Georgia, September 26‑28

The “people flow” brought by tourism is generating tangible “commercial flow”. To help Chinese companies precisely connect with procurement demand in Georgia and surrounding markets, the Smart Life Expo Georgia 2026 will be held on:

Date: September 26‑28, 2026
Venue: Tbilisi, Georgia

Exhibit Categories:

• Building Materials & Construction Machinery Zone:building materials, hardware tools, engineering machinery, lighting, furniture, etc.
• Industrial & Machinery Equipment Zone:machine tools, packaging machinery and materials, printing machinery, electro-mechanical equipment, etc.
• Consumer Electronics & Home Appliances Zone:home appliances, consumer electronics, automatic control systems, etc.
• Textiles, Leather & Daily Consumer Goods Zone:home textiles, leather products, clothing and fabrics, accessories and trims, footwear, daily use articles, etc.
• Food & Equipment Zone:food and beverages, food machinery and technology, food processing machinery and technology, food packaging machinery and measuring equipment, etc.
• Auto Parts & Decoration Zone:vehicles and auto parts, automotive accessories and decorations, tools, etc.