“In January-November 2016 Georgia was visited by 980.8 thousand Russian citizens, which is 13.1% more than in the same period of the last year”, - according to the data of the information-analytical department of the Georgian Interior Ministry. In November 2016 the number of visitors from Russia increased by 9.8% against November 2015 – up to 60.6 thousand people.

“In connection with the increased flow of Russian tourists to Georgia, the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns about the risks which are associated with the trips of Russians to this country”, - reported Rosturizm. Under conditions of absence of diplomatic relations, broken by the Georgian side in 2008, the possibility of consular and legal protection of Russians in Georgia is extremely limited.

“In January - October 2016 Georgia was visited by 920 200 citizens of Russia, which is 13.4% more than in the same period of the last year”, - said in the information-analytical department of the Interior Ministry on Wednesday.

“For the period January-September 2016 Georgia was visited by 832 thousand Russian citizens, which is 13.4% more than in the same period of 2015”, - said the Information and Analytical Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry on Monday.

Moscow and Tbilisi are discussing simplification of the visa regime between the two countries, Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, adding that the work continues. "Speaking about simplification of the visa regime with Georgia, the discussion is under way despite the fact that Tbilisi initiated severing of diplomatic relations.

Next week, Tbilisi expects the Russian delegation headed by the director of department of state policy in the field of Civil Aviation of Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Svetlana Petrova, to discuss the possibility of increasing the frequency of flights between the two countries.

In January - February 2016, Georgia was attended by 87,4 thousand Russian citizens, which is 18.8% more than in the same period of the last year, according to the analytical department of the Georgian Interior Ministry. In February, the number of Russians who visited Georgia has increased in comparison with February 2015 by 29% to 43.1 thousand people, which was a record figure for the last 10 years. By the number of people who visited Georgia, Russia occupies the fourth position after Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia, a statement said.

On August 14, the Georgian airline Georgian Airways operated its first direct regular flight after seven years from Tbilisi to Rostov-on-Don. The flights will be operated twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Travel time is 1 hour 10 minutes. The minimum fare for a ticket in one direction is 124 euros, round-trip ticket costs 224 euros. Rostov-on-Don is the fourth largest city in Russia after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Samara, in which direction Georgian Airways will operate direct regular flights. On a regular basis, the flights from the Russian side to Georgia are currently operated by four airlines: Siberia (S7 Airlines), Aeroflot, Transaero and Ural Airlines.