TBILISI, January 15 – Georgia’s winter resorts are struggling to cope with a surge in visitors, as outdated and overstretched infrastructure strains popular ski destinations during the peak holiday season.
Hotel owners and tourism operators say resorts such as Bakuriani and Gudauri are hosting far more guests than they were designed for, leading to traffic jams, access problems, and growing concerns about safety and services, Rezonansi reports.
The pressure is most visible between mid-December and the end of January, when hotels operate at full capacity. During this period, transportation becomes difficult, waste collection is disrupted, and basic services struggle to keep up. Industry representatives say the problems reflect years of underinvestment in infrastructure.
Bakuriani, for example, was originally built to accommodate around 7,000 tourists but now hosts up to 60,000 visitors during the winter season. While this reflects the resort’s popularity, it also exposes major gaps in roads, parking, and utilities.
Hotel managers in Bakuriani say conditions are somewhat better than last year, partly because tourist demand has eased slightly and snowfall has been more evenly distributed across resorts. Last winter, poor snow conditions in Gudauri pushed unusually large crowds toward Bakuriani. This season, Gudauri has had sufficient snow, spreading visitors more evenly.
Still, traffic congestion remains a daily issue in Bakuriani, and occasional problems with gas pressure during cold weather have been reported. Hoteliers say water supply and waste collection are generally under control, but stress that capacity limits are being tested.
The situation is more severe in Gudauri. A lack of parking has effectively blocked access roads, while narrow internal roads make movement difficult for both vehicles and pedestrians. Tourists often have to walk long distances to reach hotels after being unable to drive through congested areas.
Waste removal has also been experiencing disruptions in Gudauri, as service vehicles struggle to navigate narrow and crowded streets. Local business owners warn that unresolved problems could damage the resort’s reputation and discourage repeat visitors.
Hotel operators also point to the lack of adequate medical facilities as a major concern. Gudauri is a high-risk winter sports destination, yet emergency medical services remain limited, with only a small number of vehicles serving both the resort and nearby Kazbegi district.
Sources among local businesses told the newspaper that timely medical assistance cannot always be guaranteed.
