Carpathians break records in winter: 40% more tourists than last year

16 January 10:00

During the winter holidays of 2024-2025, the western regions of Ukraine recorded a significant increase in tourist activity – 30-40% more visitors compared to last season. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine, according to Komersant ukrainskyi.

Andriy Dzvinchuk, chairman of the board of the Association of Hotels and Estate Owners of Yaremche Region, commented:

“Last season, even with great snowy weather, there were fewer people, this year we see 30-40% more tourists. This is due to two factors: an increase in supply in the region and a slightly more positive attitude.”

The Yaremche region, which includes Yaremche, Polianytsia, Yablunytsia, Mykulychyn, Vorokhta, and Tatariv, currently has about 20,000 tourist accommodations in about 250 hotels and 800 estates. In recent years, there has been a tendency to shift the tourist flow closer to the resorts in winter, due to the emergence of new large hotels with 200-300 rooms and modern infrastructure.

Yulia Kosenko, CEO of Ribas Hotels Management, shared the statistics:

“This year’s season officially started on December 12, which contributed to an increase in occupancy and demand in the market. During the New Year’s period, we came close to the numbers that were before the full-scale invasion, and in some hotels even exceeded them. Hotel occupancy in Bukovel reached 77-84%, depending on the hotel, and increased by 11-13% compared to last year.”

The length of stay for guests in Bukovel increased to 4.3 nights compared to 3.2 nights last year. 60% of guests stayed for 5-8 nights during the New Year holidays. There was also renewed interest in celebrating the New Year in hotel restaurants, which filled 73% of the seats.

The Lviv region is also showing positive dynamics.

“There is growth. Comparing the New Year’s period, 43.3% of hotel rooms were booked in 2023, and 47% in 2024,”

– says Taras Lozynsky, acting head of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of the Lviv Regional State Administration.

In Lviv, hotel occupancy reached 54.6% compared to 54.4% last year. However, in the Carpathian region and resort areas, there has been a decline in occupancy (46.1% and 41.9% in 2024 vs. 62.4% and 57.7% in 2023), which can be explained by a significant increase in new supply. At the same time, the tourist tax increased to UAH 9.17 million compared to UAH 7.6 million in the same period last year.

Yevhen Kudryavchenko, partner of Apartel resort, reported 80% occupancy of the chain’s hotels during the New Year period, with about 40% of guests choosing long-term stays of five nights or more:

“If we talk about the period from December 10 to January 10, we have a fantastic occupancy rate, about 70% in hotels due to the large number of families with children. We adapted the program for them, added children’s entertainment, and allocated a whole room for children’s entertainment. Even on New Year’s Eve, we had a separate room where children celebrated separately from their parents, and parents thanked us for it.”

As for booking trends, tourists are now more likely to book rooms a week before arrival, although in Bukovel most bookings are made a month in advance. There has also been an increase in the percentage of cancellations to 15% compared to 5% before the war.

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Prices for winter vacations in 2024

Accommodation prices have increased by 10-20% compared to last year due to inflation, the emergence of more expensive new offers and the return of Booking.com’s commission for Ukrainian customers (up to 18%).

According to experts, the average budget per person at the resorts of western Ukraine (Carpathians, Bukovel, Dragobrat, Slavske) ranges from UAH 2,500 to 6,000 per day, depending on the level of service and popularity of the resort. This includes accommodation, meals, and equipment rental.

The most popular ski resorts in Ukraine in 2024

Bukovel is definitely one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Ukraine. It is known for its infrastructure, a huge number of slopes and cable cars, and a variety of entertainment. Prices in Bukovel range from 2,500 hryvnias per day for standard accommodation to 10,000 and more for premium apartments during the peak season.

Dragobrat is one of the highest ski resorts in Ukraine, located at an altitude of over 1400 meters. Dragobrat attracts fans of extreme sports and snow that lasts longer than in other resorts. Accommodation prices here range from 2,000 to 6,000 hryvnias per day.

Slavske is a popular family vacation destination with comfortable conditions for beginners. Prices here are an order of magnitude lower than Bukovel and range from 1,500 to 3,000 hryvnias per day.

Yablunytsia is a small but cozy resort that attracts tourists with its calm atmosphere and affordable prices. Accommodation here can be found from 1,200 UAH per day.

Pylypets is another popular resort in Zakarpattia, which is noted for its picturesque landscapes and affordable accommodation prices starting at 1,000 UAH per night.

Migovo – located in the Chernivtsi region, this place is a good option for those who want to save money. Here you can find accommodation from 1,200 UAH per night.

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Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor