Georgian Deputy Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili stated this week since the border closure by Azerbaijan in spring 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Georgia had suffered a loss of over 1.5 million tourists, equivalent to approximately $400 million in unearned revenue.

Azerbaijan has yet to reopen its land borders with any neighboring countries, citing pandemic prevention measures. 

The closure has impacted Georgia's tourism industry, as Azerbaijan traditionally contributes a substantial number of visitors. In 2019, Azerbaijan led in visitor numbers to Georgia, surpassing Russia, Turkey, and Armenia. However, by 2023, Azerbaijan had fallen to fifth place.

In 2019, 1.5 million visitors from Azerbaijan spent $237 million in Georgia. However, in 2023, the number of visitors from Azerbaijan decreased by 87 percent, and the amount spent dropped by nearly 40 percent.