INCREASING TRENDS OF TOURIST FLOWS FROM THE EUROPRAN COUNTRIES TO GEORGIA

Tourism is developing in Georgia and it is the fact that the exemption of visa limitations has had an important impact on the growth of tourist flows. It may be assumed that significantly increased flows of EU citizens to Georgia in recent years are an immediate result of the liberal visa policy. Research methodology: methods of statistical observation, grouping and analysis were used in the research process. The number of total visitors to the country and that from the European Union increases annually. As the data of 2018 suggest, the visits to Georgia for 72.9% of the international visitors were recurring, while 27.1% of the visitors were on their first visit in Georgia. Visits from the EU are most common in the III quarter of the year, i.e. in summer. EU visitors are mostly from Poland, Germany, UK, France, Lithuania and other countries. Most visitors are of the 26-35 age group. The most visited place is Tbilisi. The visits from the EU show a generally increasing trend, with the greatest increase fixed in 2018 as compared to the previous year; men dominate among the international visitors. The EU countries show a similar regularity; as to the age categories, 31-50 age group dominates among the international visitors and 26-65 age group dominates among the EU visitors; a leading country with the largest number of visits from the EU is Poland; the degree of satisfaction is high, with only 1.7% of the international inbound visitors being discontent.


INTRODUCTION
Georgia is a country very rich in natural beauty, with an extensive history and culture. Georgia has also many natural heritage products, such as the mountain resorts such as Borjomi, Abastumani, Tskaltubo, Sairme and so on. People often visit these places not only for the unique nature, but for the exceptional air and water quality, which some believe can cure different deceases. Another popular destination is the sea resort Ureki with its course dark sands with magnetic properties which are also said to treat health problems. The country also has winter resorts such as Gudauri and Bakuriani, with abundant annual snowfalls, which are popular destination or tourists and skiers, as well as natural gorges and delightful waterfalls, attracting local and international trekkers and nature-lovers. This is why year after year the number of foreign visitors to Georgia is growing (Abesadze, Mindorashvili & Paresashvili, 2017). The fact is that tourism needs more support to use its full potential. One main promoting factor can be developing tourism destination management, including understanding importance of stakeholders and their cooperation. So it is important to estimate events in a tourism field, detect trends and determine statistical rules. For this purpose we need objective information that requires perfect adaptation of international techniques of statistical accounting of tourism and practical implementation of these techniques on-site (Abesadze, Mindorashvili & Paresashvili,  2016). Today, in the modern era of economic development, tourism is a very important source of development and economic growth. Therefore, its improvement plays a crucial role and is considered to be the the pre-condition for developing Georgian economy and reaching high economic growth rate.
Today the trend of tourism development in Georgia is the systematic increase of tourist flows from the EU to Georgia. Although the same growth rates are not observed as in the tourist flows of neighboring countries, but the number of tourists arriving from EU countries is increasing every year.This is confirmed by statistics.

METHODOLOGY
Methods of statistical observation, grouping and analysis were used in the research process. The main source of information was the data of National Statistics Office and the National Tourism Administration. for visual effects we used a graphic method.

RESULTS
Tourism in Georgia is one of the priorities for country's economic development. Georgia has a lot to offer visitors because of its great tourism potential (Abesadze, 2018). In the modern way of understanding, tourism for Georgia is more than just its social and economic impact. Tourism combines the transport, service and social spheres, which, due to its multifaceted variety, have a significant impact on the country's economic development (EEAS, 2017).
The development of tourism as one of the specific sectors of the national economy requires the development of right state policy. Its specificity is that the economy and tourism of the country itself tightly interact with each other.There is a direct link between them, namely, the growth of the country's high economic potential and stability is a prerequisite for the rapid development of the tourism business, and vice versa. Tourism development also strengthens and enhances the economic potential of the country (DCFTA, 2016). This is indisputable as the increase in the number of tourists brings in additional foreign currency to the country, the number of employees increases, the infrastructure and vehicles improve, the quality of service improves, new business opportunities develope and most importantly, the unique opportunity for regional development creates. It should be noted that tourism is a very important issue for the country, especially if the country is rich in natural resources and important, interesting cultural heritage. Georgia has always been in the spotlight of tourists in this regard and many foreigners visit our country today as well (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, 2012). However, it does not mean that every challenge has been handled. Problems in the tourism sector truly exist, solving these problems are the part of country's economic policy. Therefore, analysis of the factors and problems which affect tourism is significant.
Based on the studies, the following factors are hindering tourism development in Georgia: tourism infrastructure; quality of service; high price level; lack of tourism product diversity low country awareness and inadequate image; sustainable development and state support; lack of coordination, etc. The long-term success of tourism depends on the development of the mentioned areas. The removal of visa restrictions has had a significant impact on the growth of tourist flows. Georgia has launched its own liberal visa policy since June 1, 2006, when the "Georgian Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners"came into force. Under this law, citizens of the European Union and many other countries have been waived visa restrictions and were allowed to enter and move freely within Georgia for 90 days. (Ministry of foreign affairs of Georgia, 2016). Later, the 90-day limit has increased to 360 days and today citizens of more It should be noted that, Georgia's government and society should temper their expectations regarding full membership in the Union anytime soon and instead concentrate on more immediate goals such as: completing Georgia's integration into the EU single market by implementing labor mobility with the EU; and establishing and deepening institutional relationships with EU military and security structures (Lebanidze, 2017). All this will contribute to the further development of tourism.
According to official data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (2019) It is interesting to see how the dynamics of tourist arrivals and departures from Georgia to the EU have changed since visa liberalization.
For the statistical analysis of tourism flows, the data from three different sources have been examined: data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (2019), Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) and National Statistics Office of Georgia (2019). The number of tourists arriving from the EU is generally characterized by an upward trend. In 2011-2018, the number of tourists increased by an average of 19%. In 2018 alone 36% more tourists came from EU countries than in the previous year.  108,5 136,4 163,9 183,9 198,2 219,5 269,9 368,1 However, data from years of analysis show that absolute growth is not characterized by a growth trend for all years (See Fig. 1). The highest growth rate was136.4% in 2018, as expected. Whereas the lowest 107.8% was in 2015. The growth rate is 28.6%. The range of growth rate was 28.6%. The number of visitors from the EU increases by 37,000 annually during the study period.

What is the demographic profile of the visitors?
In 2018, the number of men coming from the EU exceeds the number of women. Similar trends have been observed in all EU countries except Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg, where on the contrary, the number of women exceeds that of men. from the EU in 2018 are 26-35 years old, which is 21.7% of the total EU visitors, followed by 19.4% 36-45 years old. It is very interesting that a significant share of visitors over the age of 65 is -11.1%, while the smallest share is in the category of 18-25 year olds, whose share is only 6.6% (Fig.3.). In 2017, the same trends were observed, except for Lithuania, which was replaced by Greece (Fig.4.).  Germany has always been at the forefront in 2011-2018, however, the number of tourists coming from Poland is truly interesting, which has significantly increased. In 2011, their number was 10 906, and in 2018 it reached 65 361 and outstripped Germany.
EU visits are mainly in the III quarter, respectively in the summer, with the least visits in the I quarter -during the winter. The number of visits in the III quarter increased by 40% compared to the same period last year ( Fig.5). It should be noted that in 2018, 72.9% of international visits were repeat visits and 27.1% for the first time. This indicates that tourists are satisfied with their visit to Georgia and that is why there is a large share of repeat visits. As a result, the quality of tourist satisfaction is high, with only 1.7% of international visitors being dissatisfied with visiting Georgia.
Which regions are the most attractive for tourists anyway? Visitors mainly visit Tbilisi, Adjara, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Imereti. The Association Agreement "recognizes" Georgia as an Eastern European country and its European aspirations and Recognizes the European choice (GRASS, 2017). Therefore, we expect the increase in tourist arrivals.  • In general, tourists come to Georgia mainly by land. However, the number of air entrants is increasing every year.
• The main part of visits by air arrives in Tbilisi International Airport.
• The number of visitors to the country as a whole and from the EU states increases every year, and therefore the percentage of EU visitors to the total number of visitors is increasing.
• In 2018, 72.9% of international visits were repeat visits and 27.1% for the first time. This indicates that tourists are happy to visit Georgia and that is why there is a large share of repeat visits.
• Among international visitors, male gender prevails over female, a similar pattern is depicted in EU countries.
• The age group leading in the international visitors is between 31-50, whereas from the EU is 26-65.
• Poland is the leader in visits from EU.
• Satisfaction level is high: Only 1.7% of international visitors are dissatisfied.