Ukraine: Outbound Travel & Tourism Insert Report Title Here Page 1 of 3 Olena Stephanska June 1, 2013 Summary With a population of over 46 million, Ukraine has a favorable location, bordering with EU and Russia. The Ukrainian tourism industry has a great deal of potential, both inbound and outbound. Ukraine’s inbound tourism figures received a large boost in the summer 2012 thank to European Soccer Cup co-hosted with Poland. The number of tourist arrivals for Ukraine in 2012 was over 23 million. Outbound tourism is a fraction of the inbound figure and in 2012 was estimated at 6.4 million. The top three outbound tourist destinations were Hungary, Poland and Romania. The United States sits in 8th place with 81,330 arrivals from Ukraine in 2012 and is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination for Ukrainians. Outbound tourist departures to the U.S. are increasing by an average of 9% a year over the past three years. Simplified U.S. visa procedures and the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Euro have helped make travel to the United States more attractive and affordable for Ukrainian travelers. Best Products/Services According to the data from the Ukrainian tour operators, the most popular destinations in the United States for the Ukrainian travelers include: Cities: New York City, Miami, Las Vegas National Parks Ski / Winter Resorts Leisure / Entertainment Complexes New York City has been and will likely remain the most popular city destination for Ukrainian tourists in the near future. Ukrainians will often combine their business travel to NYC with a pleasure trip. Their family, historical and cultural ties to NYC put it on the top of the list for brand awareness, followed by Miami and other locations in Florida famous for their comfort and opportunities for various forms of leisure. As more Ukrainian tourists reach the U.S. West Coast, Californian resorts and attractions are becoming increasingly popular in this respect as well. Las Vegas is another destination that historically was considered by many Ukrainians the gambling and entertainment capital of the world and has gained even bigger popularity when gambling was officially banned in Ukraine in 2010. Interest in national parks is growing as Ukrainian tourists hear more about what they have to offer. Ski and winter sports resorts have become more popular in recent years as they provide a unique travel experience in terms of variety, beauty and quality of service. Because of the current U.S. dollar/Euro exchange rate, these resorts have become more economical than European destinations. The U.S. Commercial Service – Your Global Business Partner. export.gov 800-USA-TRADE Insert Report Title Here Page 2 of 3 Opportunities Increased prices for domestic travel destinations and the development of outbound travel services triggered Ukrainians’ growing interest in travel to destinations outside Ukraine. Hungary, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria have held the top places in the number of Ukrainian tourists for the past several years. These countries, along with Italy, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Israel, UAE and Thailand still constitute the core of mass tourism destinations for Ukrainian travelers. However, recent outbound traffic statistics indicate that, in addition to traditional warm and seaside destinations, more Ukrainians are choosing countries where they may supplement time on the beach with other activities, such as cultural and sporting events, shopping and recreation. Moreover, Ukrainians who have traveled to Asia and Europe in the past are willing to explore destinations other than those they have already visited. While the activity may be similar, the different destination is appealing. For example, skiers who have visited the Alps for their proximity look to Colorado, Utah and Vermont for their next trip. The United States is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination for Ukrainians with 81,300 arrivals from Ukraine in 2012. Outbound tourist departures to the U.S. are increasing by an average of 9% a year over the past three years. An important factor accounting for the steady growth in the number of Ukrainian travelers to the United States is the significant improvement in the visa application process that has taken place in recent years. The U.S. Embassy has made great progress in streamlining the process in the face of a rapidly growing number of applications and has made visa information available online in Ukrainian. Applicants have the opportunity to secure a five-year, multiple entry visas. For those wishing to renew a visa, the requirement to appear for an interview is waived if they apply within 24 months following their previous visa expiration date. The availability of visa information online has made it possible to counter the market’s impression that U.S. visas are expensive, difficult to obtain and take a long time to process. Ukrainian tour operators are also educating their travelers regarding these improvements. In 2012 the U.S. Commercial Service in Kyiv, Ukraine has approached U.S. and local tourism business leaders with an initiative to create a VisitUSA Committee in Ukraine, a non-profit professional association whose prime objective is to promote travel and tourism to the United States. To date, VisitUSA Committees operate in 42 countries. Trade Events UITT (Ukraine International Travel & Tourism) is the largest and most important travel industry event in Ukraine. It attracts key international travel industry players looking to promote their products and increase their presence in the Ukrainian market. UITT 2014 takes place in Kyiv, on March 26 – 28. http://www.uitt-kiev.com/en/ For More Information The U.S. Commercial Service in Kyiv Ukraine can be contacted via e-mail at: olena.stephanska@trade.gov; Phone: (38044) 490-4054/490-4018; Fax: (38044) 490-4046; or visit our website: http://www.buyusa.gov/ukraine The U.S. Commercial Service – Your Global Business Partner. export.gov 800-USA-TRADE Insert Report Title Here Page 3 of 3 The U.S. Commercial Service — Your Global Business Partner With its network of offices across the United States and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://www.export.gov/eac. Comments and Suggestions: We welcome your comments and suggestions regarding this market research. You can e-mail us your comments/suggestions to: Customer.Care@mail.doc.gov. Please include the name of the applicable market research in your e-mail. We greatly appreciate your feedback. Disclaimer: The information provided in this report is intended to be of assistance to U.S. exporters. While we make every effort to ensure its accuracy, neither the United States government nor any of its employees make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information in this or any other United States government document. Readers are advised to independently verify any information prior to reliance thereon. The information provided in this report does not constitute legal advice. International copyright, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2013. 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