Georgian business suffers massive losses due to coronavirus

The tourist business suffers losses; employees are fired; and hotels are massively closed, a female employee of one of tourist companies has stated. Panic caused by coronavirus collapsed the Georgian national currency versus US dollar, the National Bank has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Georgia, the number of coronavirus patients increased up to 25; all mass events were cancelled in the country.

On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a coronavirus pandemic. This will have a negative impact on the country's economy, said Natiya Turnava, the Minister of Economy of Georgia.

Employees of some travel agencies have been sent to unpaid vacations. In March, all those who had intended to come to Georgia cancelled their bookings; for April, 90 percent of reservations were cancelled, a female employee of one of travel companies has reported.

Tourists from Asian countries, China and Thailand, were first to cancel their reservations. Now, they are followed by residents of post-Soviet countries.

"A lot of unemployed persons have entered the labour market. Waiters and hotel maids are being dismissed as unnecessary," the employee has added.

In its turn, the Georgian opposition stated the government should not ascribe their own mistakes to the pandemic.

David Bakradze, the leader of the "European Georgia" Party, speaking on air of the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV Channel, has urged the government to ease the situation of businesses and reduce taxes.