This is a map of Russian military bases in countries of the former Soviet Union. It might be fair to note that the Russians don't restrict themselves to 'tank tourism' (dixit Alexander Rondeli) though. When I was in Batumi and Kazbegi last week (therefore no post), I met mainly Russians, and maybe one or two lost Ukrainians. And a Pole.
Moreover, I saw more Russian cars than Georgian ones. On the road from Stepantsminda to the Russian border, which was only thirty kilometres away, I saw probably two Georgian cars. There were more vehicles from Armenia and Ukraine, and just lots from the Russian Federation.
Russia introduced a visa regime for Georgia in 2000, citing security reasons (probably the Second Chechen War). Since the Georgian-Russian August War of 2008, Georgia basically only allowed family visits to its Northern neighbour.
With Georgian tourism rapidly expanding and tension decreasing, the amount of Russians visiting 'Gruziya' rose as well, nevertheless. In 2012 the Georgian government unilaterally removed the visa requirements for Russian citizens, and in the following year the number of Russian tourists reached the 200.000. A year later, these numbers were more than doubled to 500.000. This is more than ten percent of the foreign visitors Georgia welcomed that year. Only the number of Turkish tourists was higher. Georgia is not there yet, however. In Soviet times, the Georgian SSR welcomed three million Russian tourists annually.
Many inhabitants of the former Soviet Union, whether they are from Russia or another former constituent republic (the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic just happened to be the biggest), still cherish the memory of state-funded holidays to the Black Sea coast. They went to Yalta (on the Crimean peninsula), Sochi (now Russia), Sokhumi (in Abkhazia), or Batumi, here shown.
There's a lot of wild nature in Russia, including mountains, but the Caucasus still stands out as the highest mountain range of Europe. The highest European mountain (Elbrus, 5642m) lies in North Ossetia, in the Russian Federation, but Mount Kazbek in Georgia, is with 5047 meter a good sixth (and third in Georgia). And a awful lot prettier.
Moreover, the Russians lost almost all of their relevant (warm water) coastline with the collapse of the USSR. Around the Baltic Sea, Saint Petersburg was left alone when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania left the Union. More significant, for the commoners as much as for the military, was the loss of Ukraine. The Russian Federation negotiated an agreement to keep their naval base at the Crimean peninsula, and they continued to enjoy their holidays there. They got company of the Ukrainian fleet, however. Some Georgians are convinced that many Ukrainians will visit Georgia instead of Crimea this year. The Tourism Agency is more sceptic. Obviously, this entry is to be continued.
During increasing tensions in 2006, Russia started to boycott Georgian wine and mineral waters. The embargo was an obvious attempt to punish the new Georgian government for its pro-western course. President Saakashvili called Russia's tactic 'economic blackmail'. Georgia lost 80% of its wine exports overnight. The (in)famous Borjomi mineral water lost 70% of its customers. Georgia was forced to diversify its exports and started for the first time to export to Europe seriously. Because of the higher quality standards there, the Georgians were eventually able to make more money with less export.
Eventually, the import ban of Russia was lifted in 2013. Georgian wine exports are still recovering, but at this very moment 70% of Georgian wine goes to Russia already. The main wine markets continue to be Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Latvia. For Georgian mineral water this list is quite similar: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belarus, and Azerbaijan - all Post-Soviet or Post-Communist countries, indeed.
Moreover, I saw more Russian cars than Georgian ones. On the road from Stepantsminda to the Russian border, which was only thirty kilometres away, I saw probably two Georgian cars. There were more vehicles from Armenia and Ukraine, and just lots from the Russian Federation.
Russia introduced a visa regime for Georgia in 2000, citing security reasons (probably the Second Chechen War). Since the Georgian-Russian August War of 2008, Georgia basically only allowed family visits to its Northern neighbour.
With Georgian tourism rapidly expanding and tension decreasing, the amount of Russians visiting 'Gruziya' rose as well, nevertheless. In 2012 the Georgian government unilaterally removed the visa requirements for Russian citizens, and in the following year the number of Russian tourists reached the 200.000. A year later, these numbers were more than doubled to 500.000. This is more than ten percent of the foreign visitors Georgia welcomed that year. Only the number of Turkish tourists was higher. Georgia is not there yet, however. In Soviet times, the Georgian SSR welcomed three million Russian tourists annually.
Many inhabitants of the former Soviet Union, whether they are from Russia or another former constituent republic (the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic just happened to be the biggest), still cherish the memory of state-funded holidays to the Black Sea coast. They went to Yalta (on the Crimean peninsula), Sochi (now Russia), Sokhumi (in Abkhazia), or Batumi, here shown.
There's a lot of wild nature in Russia, including mountains, but the Caucasus still stands out as the highest mountain range of Europe. The highest European mountain (Elbrus, 5642m) lies in North Ossetia, in the Russian Federation, but Mount Kazbek in Georgia, is with 5047 meter a good sixth (and third in Georgia). And a awful lot prettier.
Moreover, the Russians lost almost all of their relevant (warm water) coastline with the collapse of the USSR. Around the Baltic Sea, Saint Petersburg was left alone when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania left the Union. More significant, for the commoners as much as for the military, was the loss of Ukraine. The Russian Federation negotiated an agreement to keep their naval base at the Crimean peninsula, and they continued to enjoy their holidays there. They got company of the Ukrainian fleet, however. Some Georgians are convinced that many Ukrainians will visit Georgia instead of Crimea this year. The Tourism Agency is more sceptic. Obviously, this entry is to be continued.
During increasing tensions in 2006, Russia started to boycott Georgian wine and mineral waters. The embargo was an obvious attempt to punish the new Georgian government for its pro-western course. President Saakashvili called Russia's tactic 'economic blackmail'. Georgia lost 80% of its wine exports overnight. The (in)famous Borjomi mineral water lost 70% of its customers. Georgia was forced to diversify its exports and started for the first time to export to Europe seriously. Because of the higher quality standards there, the Georgians were eventually able to make more money with less export.
Eventually, the import ban of Russia was lifted in 2013. Georgian wine exports are still recovering, but at this very moment 70% of Georgian wine goes to Russia already. The main wine markets continue to be Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Latvia. For Georgian mineral water this list is quite similar: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belarus, and Azerbaijan - all Post-Soviet or Post-Communist countries, indeed.
Vineyard in Kakheti
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