Georgian casinos are the main target of most tourists

Georgia is developing tourism by exploiting the attractiveness of casinos, analysts say. Gambling establishments that host foreign guests pay an overwhelming tax component to the state.

Analysts who have studied the Georgian tourism market state that last year the local tourism business brought the republican purse $ 2.8 billion. The layman, who thinks that foreigners are interested in local beauty, is greatly mistaken. The summary figure hides $ 2.3 billion generated by casinos, gambling establishments. All tourism, by the way, gives Georgia 7% of GDP.

The dynamism of the industry, experts write, is simply amazing: relative to 2012, the cash flow that washes over the casino has increased tenfold. This, by the way, is the official statistics - double the numbers to get a return that takes into account illegal establishments. Let us remind you that the shadow gambling business also exists. The scale of casino commerce is 1.6 billion higher than non-specialized trade, the turnover of the restaurant business.

Today Georgian businessmen are concerned with the development of virtual casinos. The legislation favors the development of online casinos. A tourist, having spent time in real gambling halls, having a snack in a restaurant, is free to play poker by visiting an online casino.

Such movements, analysts say, probably reduced the attendance of restaurants and cafes: the profitability of catering slowed down - here last year travelers left $ 655 million less than the year before.