International tourism revenues reached $1.5 trillion in 2023, which means a full recovery to the level of pre-pandemic 2019 in nominal terms and by 97% adjusted for inflation, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).
According to the organization, Europe received the highest revenues from international tourism – $660 billion, which is 7% more than in pre-pandemic 2019. Revenues in the Middle East increased by 33%. Last year, America recovered 96% of its pre-pandemic international tourism revenues, Africa – 95%, and the Asia-Pacific region – 78%.
According to UN Tourism, in 2023, GDP from tourism recovered to the level of 2019. It is estimated to have amounted to $3.3 trillion, or 3% of global GDP.
As noted, several destinations achieved outstanding results in terms of international tourism revenues in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2019. Among them are Serbia (plus 127%), Turkey (plus 82%), Pakistan (plus 72%), Tanzania (plus 62%), Portugal (plus 61%), Romania (plus 57%), Japan (plus 53%), Mongolia (plus 50%), Mauritius (plus 46%) and Morocco (plus 44%).
In the framework of international cooperation and cultural exchange, representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine visited the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Kyiv. The main purpose of the visit was the ceremony of handing over digital copies of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Armenian Voytov Court record books written in the Armenian-Kipchak language.
The ceremony was attended by counselors of the Embassy Alibek Alibekov, Yevgeniy Katrenov and Daniyar Satybaldin, director of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine Yaroslav Fayzulin, as well as archive staff and representatives of Kazakh business.
These unique historical documents are of great importance for the cultural heritage and history of both Ukraine and Kazakhstan. They testify to the rich cultural and historical ties between the peoples who lived on the territory of modern Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The representatives expressed special gratitude to Kazakh businessman and philanthropist Aidyn Rakhimbayev, who made it possible to obtain these historical documents. Aidyn Rakhimbayev is known for his numerous charitable projects and support of cultural initiatives. In gratitude for his cooperation, five modern computers were donated to the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine on behalf of Mr. Rakhimbayev.
This gesture contributes to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as supports the preservation of historical heritage and the development of cultural ties.
Ancient Kipchak books are handwritten documents created in the Middle Ages, when the Kipchaks (Polovtsians) were one of the most powerful nomadic peoples in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. These books contain valuable historical, legal, and literary texts that reflect the social life, traditions, and legal systems of the time.
The Armenian-Kipchak language is considered to be a unique historical and linguistic phenomenon that arose as a result of the long coexistence of Armenian and Kipchak communities on the territory of modern Ukraine. This language was used by Armenians living in the Crimea, Kamianets-Podilskyi, and other cities where the Kipchaks had significant influence. The Armenian-Kipchak language is a mixed language that combines elements of the Kipchak (Polovtsian) and Armenian languages, making it a unique cultural heritage.
The Kamianets-Podilskyi Armenian Voytiv Court was a judicial institution that operated in Kamianets-Podilskyi during the Middle Ages. It resolved legal issues of the local Armenian community. The record books of this court are valuable sources on the history of law, ethnography, and social life of the society of that time. These books have been stored in the archive for centuries and have now become available thanks to their digitization.
Kazakhstan has now received digital copies of unique ancient Kipchak books, which are now available for study and research, enriching the historical heritage of both countries.
On July 22, 1992, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine established diplomatic relations. And in December 1994, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine was opened.
Ribas Hotels Group is expanding its network to Moldova, with the management of the Tree House Relax Park hotel complex in Chisinau starting on June 1, the company’s press service reports.
“The opening of Tree House Relax Park is a strategic step in the expansion of the Ribas Hotels Group network abroad, which helps to strengthen the company’s position in the international hospitality market. Thanks to its location, high-quality amenities and integration of the company’s best practices, the complex has every chance to become a popular destination for leisure and business events in Moldova,” said Yulia Kosenko, CEO of Ribas Management.
Tree House Relax Park has been operating since 2013 and is aimed at nature lovers and conscious eco-vacationers, from couples with children to business travelers. The park offers comfortable cottages and villas with a sauna, a swimming pool, gazebos, a restaurant and a conference room for business and festive events, and a parking lot for 250 cars.
Artur Lupashko, founder of Ribas Hotels Group, told Interfax-Ukraine that at this stage the company is taking the hotel complex under management, and that its renovation and expansion are planned for the future, with the development concept to be presented later.
Ribas Hotels Group, which has been operating since 2014, is an international management company whose flagship service is the operational management of hotel and restaurant complexes. The company also provides concept development, design, support for all stages of project implementation, consulting, and franchising services for developers.
Its portfolio includes 55 hotels under management and construction, including five projects in Bali. The operator’s total room capacity is over 1000 rooms.
Currently, the company is developing properties in Poland, Montenegro, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Georgia, Armenia, Italy, and East Asia.
A snap presidential election in Iran, organized in the wake of the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, is scheduled for June 28, Al-Arabiya TV channel reported on Monday.
According to Iranian media, candidate registration will take place from May 30 to June 3. The deadline for campaigning is from June 12 to the morning of June 27.
The day before, a helicopter carrying Iran’s president crashed in a mountainous area in heavy fog in the northwest of the country, near the border with Azerbaijan. On Monday morning it became known that all the people in the helicopter were killed. In particular, in addition to the president, Iranian Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdollahian died.
On Monday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed that Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will serve as the country’s president. Khamenei also said that Mokhber will have a maximum of 50 days to hold the country’s presidential election.
In addition, according to Iranian media, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has been appointed acting foreign minister.
Earlier Experts Club think tank presented an analytical material about the most important elections in the countries of the world in 2024, more video analysis is available here – https://youtu.be/73DB0GbJy4M?si=eGb95W02MgF6KzXU Subscribe to Experts Club YouTube channel here – https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub
The State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) is finalizing the list of large-scale privatization objects to be agreed with the Cabinet of Ministers and submitted to the auction commission, said Vitaliy Koval, head of the agency.
“Large-scale privatization is when an asset is worth more than UAH 200-250 million at its book value or starting price. Today, the official list has been approved, all large-scale privatization objects must go through the procedure of approval by the Cabinet of Ministers, be included in the list and transferred to the auction commission under the regulation of the minister, who will approve the data on the auction conditions,” he said at the Business Breakfast with Forbes Ukraine on Wednesday.
Koval named 66.65% of the Ocean Plaza shopping mall (Kyiv), which will be put up for privatization at a starting price of UAH 1.63 billion, and one of the pre-war leaders in the aerated concrete market, AEROC Investment Deutschland GmbH, with three production sites at a price of about UAH 1 billion, as the most valuable assets included in the list of large-scale privatization. Among the state-owned assets, the Ukraina Hotel (Kyiv) will be put up for privatization at a price of UAH 1.8 billion.
In addition, the assets of the United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC), which has been given control of the Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMK, Dnipro region) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGOK, Zhytomyr region), will be auctioned at a starting price of UAH 3.7-3.9 billion.
“We have a task from the Ministry of Finance – UAH 4 billion (to replenish the state budget in 2024 – IF-U). But I am confident that we will exceed it. The ambitious price is much higher,” said the SPF head.
Speaking about the target audience that the SPF is interested in transferring privatization objects into ownership, Koval said that the Fund manages a variety of assets: from a small shop, hair salon, service center and tailoring studio to large objects such as the UMCC. Accordingly, the target audience is very diverse – from individuals to corporations.
“A very cool client for us is someone who comes for the second, third, or fourth time. In addition, when it comes to international business, international groups that already have business in Ukraine, understand the country’s agenda, and are familiar with the context and feel the microclimate are of the greatest interest. Such clients are very important to us. As well as domestic investors who have small and medium-sized businesses – they are needed,” summarized the head of the SPF.
In April this year, Ukrainian steelmakers increased steel production to 715 thousand tons, up 24.5% year-on-year (574 thousand tons) and 17% compared to March this year (611 thousand tons).
At the same time, Ukraine took 20th place in the ranking of 71 countries – global producers of these products, compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
At the same time, Ukraine produced 2.402 million tons of steel in 4M2024, up 32.8% compared to the same period in 2023 (1.809 million tons in 4M2023). The country ranks 21st in January-April.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% lower than in 2022. The country was ranked 22nd in 2023.
In 2022, Ukraine ranked 23rd with 6.263 million tons of steel produced (-70.7%).
The record for Ukraine in recent years was the eighth place in the ranking of steel-producing countries compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel). Ukraine was ranked eighth in 2013, followed by a deterioration in its position and even a drop out of the top 20 steel-producing countries.
