**Georgian Parliament Speaker Slams Polish and French Embassies Over “Unfounded Attack” on Tourism**
The Georgian parliament speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, has taken to social media to express his alarm over statements made by the Polish and French embassies. The embassies had warned their citizens to exercise caution when traveling to Georgia due to allegedly high numbers of refusals at the border.
However, statistics reveal a very different story. According to Papuashvili, in 2024-2025, Poland denied entry to 1,250 Georgians, while only 9 Polish citizens were refused entry to Georgia. France also far exceeded the number of refusals it experienced from Georgian travelers, denying entry to 145 Georgians compared to just 16 French citizens being refused entry.
The numbers are even more staggering when looking at the total number of EU citizens who visited Georgia. In 2024-2025, a total of 473,422 EU citizens entered Georgia, with only 184 being denied entry. Meanwhile, EU countries denied entry to 4,825 Georgians and deported an additional 2,463.
“It is very alarming if, after unsuccessful attacks on Georgian politics, we are now to witness attacks on the Georgian economy,” Papuashvili wrote on social media. “Tourism is an important sector for the well-being of our people, and an unfounded attack on it is an attack on the well-being of the Georgian people and on our national interest.”
Papuashvili also highlighted that Georgia’s tourism industry is a vital part of its economy, and any unfounded attacks on it could have serious consequences.
“It is essential that embassies respect the Vienna Convention and refrain from spreading information that creates false perceptions about the host country,” he added.
**The Reality Behind the Numbers**
In 2024-2025:
* Poland denied entry to 1,250 Georgians
* France denied entry to 145 Georgians
* EU countries denied entry to 4,825 Georgians and deported an additional 2,463
Compare this to:
* Georgia denying entry to only 9 Polish citizens
* Georgia denying entry to only 16 French citizens
* Georgia denying entry to only 184 EU citizens in total
