Which vacation destinations in Ukraine tourists are choosing this year and how much it costs
Kyiv • UNN
The most popular destinations remain Odesa, the Carpathians, and Zakarpattia. A week's vacation for one person costs an average of 14 thousand hryvnias.
Despite the war, security risks, and logistical difficulties, Ukrainians continue to actively plan summer trips. Yulia Veselovska, a travel organizer in Ukraine, spoke specifically to UNN about which routes are best to choose for a vacation and how much an average week-long holiday will cost.
With the start of the summer season, demand for recreation near the water traditionally grows among Ukrainians. Despite the war and regular threats of shelling, many people seek to change their environment and recharge their batteries for at least a few days. According to travel agent Veselovska, the sea coast remains one of the main magnets for tourists.
Currently, we do not have such precise official statistics. But I can say that first of all, since summer has begun, everyone really wants to go to the sea somewhere, to see this sea, to breathe. And here, despite even the security situation, the only accessible city by the sea leads the way – that is Odesa. Demand for Odesa, despite even the shelling, is present because people want to come, see, and feel the vibe of a seaside holiday
Also, one of the most popular destinations remains the west of Ukraine. According to the expert, the security factor significantly influences the tourist preferences of Ukrainians here. Because of this, a significant portion of vacationers choose the Carpathians and Zakarpattia.
If we talk about the vacation itself, everything has shifted according to one major parameter – security. Bukovel and the tourist cluster around it remain the most popular. It leads in terms of bookings and occupancy. Despite the fact that Bukovel was once planned as a winter resort, it is now also a summer destination thanks to pools, a water park, and a large number of entertainment options
In addition, according to Veselovska, for many tourists, Bukovel has become a kind of symbol of prestigious recreation. However, due to high prices, many travelers look for alternative accommodation options in neighboring settlements.
Even in summer, there is a high demand for Bukovel. But I can say that the cost of a holiday there is higher. Therefore, if people want to save money, they should choose other locations for accommodation. Many do just that – they come to Bukovel for an excursion, ride the lifts, visit the water park, but spend the night in other towns of the Carpathians
Tourists pay special attention to Zakarpattia. Berehove, Koson, Svalyava, Polyana, Khust district, Velyatyno, and Shayan are popular. According to the travel agent, the region attracts not only with relative safety but also with a large number of water bodies, thermal complexes, and modern hotels.
Zakarpattia is a very unique region. There is a lot of water, mountains, delicious cuisine, and various infrastructure. You can find options for any budget. Therefore, for those who want to combine a holiday by the water and in the mountains, I would recommend Zakarpattia specifically
However, in recent years, the Ukrainian tourism market has changed significantly. If previously many people chose seaside resorts abroad, now demand has shifted to domestic destinations, and because of this, infrastructure in the regions is actively developing.
If you look at the Carpathians five years ago and now, previously you didn't see such a number of cottages with pools. Now practically every self-respecting estate or villa tries to offer a pool or access to a body of water because if there is no pool, it already affects the number of bookings
However, it's not just the Carpathians and Zakarpattia that are popular. According to the expert, Ukrainians are increasingly discovering other regions of the country. Among them are Volyn with the Shatsk Lakes, Khmelnytskyi region with Bakota, as well as Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions.
The Shatsk Lakes are very popular because there is water and relatively developed infrastructure. In summer on weekends, practically everything from the most expensive to the cheapest accommodation options is often occupied there
Veselovska separately notes Bakota, which in recent years has become one of the most famous tourist magnets in the country.
The Khmelnytskyi region is now very famous because of Bakota. It is an extraordinarily beautiful place near the Dniester Reservoir. Tourist infrastructure is actively developing there, new holiday cottages are appearing, excursions and boat trips are being conducted. But due to its popularity, there are already quite a lot of people there
Regarding holiday prices in 2024, according to the expert, they have increased significantly compared to last year. The reasons were the increase in the price of fuel, transport, utilities, and other business expenses.
There is a price increase of 15-30%. Speaking on average, a comfortable seven-day holiday for one person is somewhere around 14 thousand hryvnias. With accommodation, meals, and certain entertainment, you can fit into this amount
At the same time, tourists can find both budget and premium holiday options. It all depends on the region and the level of comfort.
For a family for a week, I would budget from 20 thousand hryvnias. But this is a very approximate figure. You can have a cheaper holiday if you choose rural tourism estates, or you can spend significantly more in expensive resort complexes
Another challenge of the tourist season has been the transport accessibility of popular destinations, as due to high demand, Ukrainians often face a shortage of train tickets.
The issue of logistics is very important now. We see that the demand for rail transport is huge. Eight to twelve people can compete for one seat in a carriage. Therefore, sometimes people find a good holiday option but physically cannot get there due to the lack of tickets
That is why the specialist advises planning trips in advance. This applies to both purchasing tickets and booking accommodation.
If people want to save money, they should first of all use early booking. According to my observations, you can save from 10 to 30 percent if you book 45-75 days before arrival
However, as Veselovska explains, Ukrainian tourism continues to develop even under war conditions. New hotels, glampings, eco-parks, and tourist routes are appearing. Therefore, the expert is convinced, Ukrainians should look not only at the most famous resorts but also at less popular locations in different regions of the country.
Ukraine is now very interesting for domestic travel. We have developing gastro-tourism, ethno-tourism, and cultural routes. Practically every region has something interesting for a tourist. You just need to look for new places and not be afraid to discover Ukraine – Veselovska concluded.