ArmInfo.The Upper Lars border checkpoint on the Russia-Georgia border has recorded a record-breaking surge in passenger vehicle traffic driven by high seasonal tourism demand, according to a press release from the North Caucasus Customs Administration of Russia.
Data released by the agency indicates that on August 15 and 16, more than 19,000 individuals crossed through the checkpoint each day. "Current figures significantly exceed data from similar periods in previous years," the statement notes.
To expedite processing times at the border, customs authorities have reinforced shifts and deployed additional personnel. The Customs Administration advised travelers to plan their journeys ahead of time while taking potential congestion into account, adhere strictly to traffic regulations, and anticipate longer travel times.
Earlier, the newspaper Vzglyad reported that Russian citizens led the number of foreign visitors to Georgia during the first half of 2026, totaling 610,825 arrivals a 5.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Turkish citizens ranked second with 525,380 visitors, followed by Armenia in third place with 360,050. In total, over 2.27 million tourists visited Georgia during the first six months of the year. The surge in border crossings comes amid media reports discussing regional travel patterns and seasonal tourism flows.
