Google Street View has officially launched its operations in Georgia, according to a statement by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
Extensive Nationwide Coverage
As part of this global project, Google Street View has mapped approximately 13,000 kilometres of roads, highways, and key tourist attractions across Georgia. This comprehensive coverage includes Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Akhaltsikhe, Mtskheta, Telavi, Zugdidi, Gori, Ozurgeti, and Mestia. By utilising 360-degree panoramic imagery, the initiative places Georgia’s natural landscapes, cities, and ancient cultural heritage onto the global digital map.
The project reaches both busy urban centres and remote highland communities, allowing detailed virtual exploration of everything from coastal boulevards in Batumi to mountain villages in Mestia. The 360-degree imagery gives prospective visitors, researchers and investors an immediate sense of place without leaving their screens.
Major roads, scenic routes and landmark clusters in all major regions were captured using specialised vehicles and camera systems, producing seamless navigable views that match the standard users expect from Google’s global service.
Launch Marks Digital and Tourism Milestone
According to the Ministry, Deputy Minister Irakli Nadareishvili participated in the launch event. He emphasised that the introduction of Google Street View is an economic milestone for the country, particularly for the tourism sector.
“This is a momentous day for Georgia, both in terms of digitalisation and for boosting the country’s global visibility. From today, millions of people will be able to virtually explore Georgia’s cities and landscapes through Google Street View’s high-resolution global imagery. This carries immense economic weight for tourism, which remains a key priority for our country’s economic development,” the Deputy Minister noted.
Placing the country’s landmarks in a widely used global platform raises Georgia’s profile among travellers who increasingly plan trips through online discovery tools.
Empowering SMEs Through Digital Tools
Irakli Nadareishvili explained that active work on this initiative had been underway for several years. He added that Google Street View will foster the development of digital economic infrastructure and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs are being given a unique opportunity to showcase their businesses, offers, and services further. Crucially, our cooperation with Google does not end here; we have concrete plans ahead, including expanding Google Street View to cover more areas, including pedestrianised zones in our tourist cities.
Furthermore, we are collaborating on artificial intelligence and other technological fields, which are core priorities for the Government of Georgia and the Ministry of Economy,” Nadareishvili stated.
Local businesses in hospitality, retail, and guiding services can now appear in global searches with authentic imagery, helping them reach travellers who research destinations online long before booking. The visibility is expected to lower barriers for smaller operators who lack large advertising budgets.
Partnership With GITA and Next Steps
The official launch of Google Street View in Georgia was made possible through a partnership between the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA).
The collaboration is described as the starting point for additional joint work on mapping and emerging technologies. Officials have indicated that pedestrian areas in popular tourist cities will be added in follow-up phases, alongside separate projects in artificial intelligence. This continued partnership is intended to keep Georgia’s digital mapping coverage up to date as new infrastructure and attractions are developed.
