Travel Agency Registration Before 2027: Rules and Fines in Georgia

In the busy season it's hard to find time for paperwork. Still, don't leave this one for the last days of December. Under Georgia's Law on Tourism, travel agencies, tour operators and guides must register in the Georgian National Tourism Administration's database of tourism activity entities. The obligation already applies, and fines for operating without registration take effect on January 1, 2027. So existing agencies should sort it out before the end of 2026.

The good news: registration is free and done online. Below we explain who it applies to, what happens if you don't register, and how to do it. At the end you'll find common questions and links to official sources so you can check everything yourself.

Travel agency registration: what changed in 2026

On May 28, 2026, the Law on Tourism was amended (Law No. 1630). Before that, tourism businesses had to register in the Public Registry's Register of Economic Activities. That obligation was removed, and a new Article 11¹ was added: tourist guides, tour operators and travel agencies (travel agents) must register in the National Tourism Administration's database.

According to the Public Registry's fee page, registration in the Register of Economic Activities costs 39 GEL for the standard term. According to the bill's explanatory note, registration in the Administration's database is one-time and free of charge.

Who has to register

The law names three groups:

Travel agency (travel agent): sells packages created by a tour operator or individual travel services;
Tour operator: creates and sells travel packages;
Tourist guide.

The law defines these groups by what they do. For example, an agency selling trips abroad, a company organizing tours inside Georgia, or an agent working only online. If you're not sure whether the obligation applies to you, or which category you fall into, ask the National Tourism Administration.

What happens if you don't register

Under Article 49 of the law, operating without registration in the database means:

a fine of 500 GEL the first time;
a fine of 1,000 GEL for a repeat violation.

Under the final provisions (Article 51, paragraph 9), these fines take effect on January 1, 2027.

How to register on Places Georgia

Registration happens on the Administration's official platform, places.georgia.travel. According to the platform's FAQ:

Go to places.georgia.travel/platform and click "Create account".
Fill in the form. The form shows which data and documents are required.
Confirm your email and mobile number. The platform asks you to verify both.
Make sure the registration was completed successfully.

Before you start

It helps to have your company's basic details at hand, plus a work email and mobile number for the confirmation codes. Ideally use an email several colleagues can see. The form will tell you exactly what's required; if something is unclear, ask the Administration.

Creating an account isn't necessarily the final step

Opening an account and submitting the form may be only part of the process. Check the status of your application and keep any confirmation the platform or the Administration sends you. If the status is unclear, ask the Administration.

What registration gives you besides avoiding a fine

Places Georgia isn't just a register. According to its FAQ, registered businesses can share information about their tourism products and services with visitors, become members of the Administration's unified database, and receive information about industry trends, ongoing projects and activities. So it's worth filling in your profile carefully and completely.

After registration: keep it up to date

Under Article 11¹, paragraph 3, you must notify the Administration in writing when you start or stop the activity, or when any related data changes. If you change your address, phone or other details, let the Administration know.

Why not wait until the last day

December is the busiest month for agencies, and small admin tasks are easily forgotten. If you need to clarify something, waiting for an answer takes time. So it's better to start early and leave yourself room to prepare any extra information.

Tip: assign one person on your team. They complete the registration, store the login details safely and keep the data updated.

Frequently asked questions

Does registration cost anything?

No. According to the bill's explanatory note, registration in the Administration's database is one-time and free.

We're already registered in the Register of Economic Activities. Is that enough?

Article 11, paragraph 4 of the law requires the Public Registry to transfer data on tourism entities in that register to the Administration electronically. But that doesn't by itself mean your old registration counts as registration in the new database. Check your status with the Administration.

Our company was already on places.georgia.travel. Do we need to register again?

The platform existed before and businesses could register voluntarily. Log in, check your details, and ask the Administration if in doubt.

Who can I contact with questions?

The platform lists: phone (+995 32) 243 69 99, email places@gnta.ge.

Important note and sources

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm the details for your case with the National Tourism Administration. Official sources:

Finally: get your own house in order too

While you're sorting out the agency's paperwork, it's a good moment to look at your internal processes. Where is your customer data kept? How do you track orders, invoices and payments? If the answer is "in Excel, chats and a notebook", it may be time for a change.

Aviafy is a Georgian CRM for travel agencies. Customers, orders, invoices and payments live in one place. It won't do the Administration registration for you, but it will bring order to your agency's day-to-day work. Try it free for 14 days, no card required: sign up here.