Tourism in Abkhazia is possible under Georgian law for foreigners entering the occupied territory from Georgia, although Georgia cannot assure the safety inside disputed territory. However, the Abkazian beaches on the Black Sea continue to be accessible for tourists coming from the Russian side of the Abkhazia–Russia border which is not under Georgian control. Low prices and an absence of any visa requirements attracts Russian tourists especially those who can not afford the vacations in Turkey, Egypt, Bulgaria and other popular Russian touristic directions.[1][2]
Despite the risks involved, about one million tourists visit Abkhazia each year, mainly from Russia.[4] One of the attractions of visiting Abkhazia as opposed to other Black Sea coastal towns, such as Sochi, is the lower cost of visiting the breakaway state.[5] One night's accommodation in Gagra, for example, cost US$25 in 2003, with the cheapest hotel in the region setting a rate of US$12 for a room and meals in that year. A trainride from a Russian border town of Sochi to the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi only cost US$1 in 2003. However, Abkhazia's tourism facilities are below Western standards, with much of its infrastructure dating back to the Soviet era.[3]
Abkhazia lies on the coast of the Black Sea, and as such, much of its tourism appeal is derived from its coastal resort towns. A number of resort facilities exist in easy and cheap reach of Russian tourists, with Sukhumi and Gagra two of the most popular towns. Tourism is most prevalent in the region's north.[5] Some of the tourist attractions include:
As part of organized tourist groups from travel companies registered in Abkhazia or in Russia, tourists from all countries (except Georgia) can visit Abkhazia without an Abkhazian visa by land only through Russia, for a period of no more than 24 hours. Crossing the border with Abkhazia from Russia is free, but according to the Georgian law visitors may only enter Abkhazia from Georgia. (In practice, it is impossible to get from the territory of Georgia to the territory of Abkhazia, since there are no checkpoints between them.) Despite that, the fact of crossing the border is easy to hide because the Abkhazian custom officials don't make any stamps in the visitors' passports since 2014.
^ abChanadiri, Goga (August 22, 2003). "Abkhazia's beauty out of sight". Civil.ge. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
^"Ростуризм увеличил туристические показатели сразу в несколько раз". tourbus.ru.
^ abWeir, Fred (July 2, 2008). "Abkhazia's tourism fights to regain fabled legacy". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
External linksedit
Abkhazia travel guide from Wikivoyage
April 14, 2024
tourism, abkhazia, possible, under, georgian, foreigners, entering, occupied, territory, from, georgia, although, georgia, cannot, assure, safety, inside, disputed, territory, however, abkazian, beaches, black, continue, accessible, tourists, coming, from, rus. Tourism in Abkhazia is possible under Georgian law for foreigners entering the occupied territory from Georgia although Georgia cannot assure the safety inside disputed territory However the Abkazian beaches on the Black Sea continue to be accessible for tourists coming from the Russian side of the Abkhazia Russia border which is not under Georgian control Low prices and an absence of any visa requirements attracts Russian tourists especially those who can not afford the vacations in Turkey Egypt Bulgaria and other popular Russian touristic directions 1 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Tourism attractions 3 Legal status 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground edit nbsp Gagra nbsp Sukhumi botanical garden nbsp New Athos Monastery nbsp Ritsa lakeDuring the time of the Soviet Union Abkhazia s Black Sea beaches attracted tourists from a number of surrounding countries constituting a 40 percent share of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic s tourism market Prior to the 1992 93 war in Abkhazia over 202 000 tourists visited the region every year 3 Abkhazia is now a disputed region with Russia Nicaragua Venezuela and Nauru as the only United Nations member states that recognise the territory as an independent nation citation needed Despite the risks involved about one million tourists visit Abkhazia each year mainly from Russia 4 One of the attractions of visiting Abkhazia as opposed to other Black Sea coastal towns such as Sochi is the lower cost of visiting the breakaway state 5 One night s accommodation in Gagra for example cost US 25 in 2003 with the cheapest hotel in the region setting a rate of US 12 for a room and meals in that year A trainride from a Russian border town of Sochi to the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi only cost US 1 in 2003 However Abkhazia s tourism facilities are below Western standards with much of its infrastructure dating back to the Soviet era 3 Tourism attractions edit nbsp Church of Gagra nbsp Sukhumi Lighthouse nbsp Besleti Bridge nbsp Kelasuri Wall nbsp Iverian Mountain nbsp New Athos Cave nbsp Bagrat s Castle nbsp Palace of the Prince of OldenburgAbkhazia lies on the coast of the Black Sea and as such much of its tourism appeal is derived from its coastal resort towns A number of resort facilities exist in easy and cheap reach of Russian tourists with Sukhumi and Gagra two of the most popular towns Tourism is most prevalent in the region s north 5 Some of the tourist attractions include Sukhumi Botanical Garden Besleti Bridge Sukhumi Lighthouse Kelasuri Wall Lake Ritsa New Athos Monastery Iverian Mountain New Athos Cave Krubera Cave the second deepest known cave on Earth Bagrat s CastleLegal status editAs part of organized tourist groups from travel companies registered in Abkhazia or in Russia tourists from all countries except Georgia can visit Abkhazia without an Abkhazian visa by land only through Russia for a period of no more than 24 hours Crossing the border with Abkhazia from Russia is free but according to the Georgian law visitors may only enter Abkhazia from Georgia In practice it is impossible to get from the territory of Georgia to the territory of Abkhazia since there are no checkpoints between them Despite that the fact of crossing the border is easy to hide because the Abkhazian custom officials don t make any stamps in the visitors passports since 2014 See also editVisa policy of AbkhaziaReferences edit V 2009 godu turisticheskij potok v abkhasia kavkaz uzel ru Retrieved 15 August 2021 Abkhazia a b Chanadiri Goga August 22 2003 Abkhazia s beauty out of sight Civil ge Retrieved January 27 2011 Rosturizm uvelichil turisticheskie pokazateli srazu v neskolko raz tourbus ru a b Weir Fred July 2 2008 Abkhazia s tourism fights to regain fabled legacy Christian Science Monitor Retrieved January 27 2011 External links edit nbsp Abkhazia travel guide from Wikivoyage Tourist site of Abkhazia Republic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tourism in Abkhazia amp oldid 1157153350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
