Kobakhidze told Imedi 2 TV on Wednesday that Georgia’s economy would lose about $1 billion annually if Russian tourists are banned from entering the country.

Up to 30,000 Georgians would lose their jobs because they deal with the Russian tourist flow.

Kobakhidze also recalled that the national economy reaches about $30 billion, and much of the infrastructure of production and services are connected with the Russian Federation, much more than with any other nation.

Georgian opposition and President Salome Zourabichvili are betting on banning ties with Russia and being in league with Western sanctions against the Eurasian country.

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