The 12th season of the “Winter Country” winter entertainment project will open on November 27, 2026, at the National Complex “Expocenter of Ukraine” (VDNG) in Kyiv, featuring over 20 themed attractions for children and adults, according to the VDNG press service.
According to the press release, this season the organizers will update the festive decorations, expand several popular entertainment zones, and set up new themed areas. As is tradition, the central attractions will be the 3,000-square-meter open-air ice rink and the main New Year’s tree.
The central entrance to the Expocenter will be decorated with illuminated reindeer figures, and the main avenue will feature decorative hot-air balloons. The Christmas tree will be adorned with new ornaments and garlands that will create the effect of a starry sky.
A decorative train and a clock tower will be installed near the ice rink, recreating the atmosphere of a festive train station. The ice arena will remain one of the largest entertainment venues of the winter season at VDNG.
One of the main new attractions will be the “Christmas Tree Ornament Fair” in Pavilion No. 2. Here, visitors will find designer collections of New Year’s ornaments, traditional Ukrainian Christmas motifs, and festive displays. Visitors will be able to purchase ornaments and order personalized inscriptions on them.
Pavilion No. 1 will host “Santa’s Residence,” featuring themed decorations, performances, and interactive programs with Santa and his elves.
In addition, a new 28-meter-tall Ferris wheel will be installed at VDNG. It will be twice as tall as the previous one and will be located near Pavilion No. 1.
The organizers also plan to expand the “Snow Sandbox,” which was open last season. Visitors will be able to have snowball fights and build snowmen. The themed area “Mr. Divko’s Wonderland” will feature giant fairy-tale figures, performances, and entertainment programs.
An expanded amusement park will be open during the winter season. Among the new attractions is the “Hawk,” which rotates 360 degrees. Also available will be the “Big Chain” carousel, escape rooms, and winter slides.
The “Christmas Factory of Dreams,” “Shumiland,” “Science Museum,” “KUBOID,” Animal Park, Kitchen&Garden, “Orangery,” and Book.ua Space will continue to operate.
A “Warm Alley” will also be set up on the Expocenter grounds, featuring photo zones, festive decorations, and food outlets. The Christmas fair will feature seasonal dishes, drinks, and sweets. The “Northern Express” will operate with an audio tour to help visitors explore the grounds.
Overall, the organizers plan to hold a series of cultural, festive, and entertainment events throughout the season.
Special attention was paid during preparations to energy self-sufficiency and visitor safety. According to VDNG, the “Winter Wonderland” venues will be powered by their own generators, which will allow them to remain operational during power outages. Energy-efficient LED lighting will be used for the festive illuminations.
Additional shelters are also planned to be set up on the Expocenter grounds before the start of the winter season. In total, they will be located in nine pavilions. According to the organizers’ estimates, in the event of an air raid alert, approximately 10,000 people will be able to take shelter simultaneously at VDNG and in safe areas near the complex.
Mastercard and the state-owned Oschadbank are the general partners of this year’s “Winter Country.”
The project will run daily from November 27, from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and on weekends and holidays from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Admission to the VDNG grounds will remain free, though certain attractions and entertainment venues may require a fee.
The National Complex “Expocenter of Ukraine” (VDNG) is an exhibition and cultural complex in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, opened in 1958. It covers an area of approximately 286 hectares. The complex is used to host exhibitions, festivals, concerts, and educational, cultural, and sporting events. “Winter Country” is one of Expocenter’s seasonal entertainment projects.
Detailed information about the program and the venues’ operating hours is available on the VDNG official website, as well as on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and Viber.
The U.S. Department of State has revoked more than 6,000 visas from foreign nationals whom U.S. authorities link to so-called birth tourism—trips to the United States for the purpose of giving birth to a child and securing U.S. citizenship for that child. The State Department announced this on November 12, 2026, on its official page on the social media platform X.
According to the department, the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force has revoked more than 6,000 visas from foreign nationals who, according to U.S. authorities, participated in such trips or facilitated their organization.
“We are identifying everyone involved in this illegal practice and holding them accountable,” the State Department stated.
As early as October 31, the U.S. State Department reported the revocation of more than 4,000 visas as part of the fight against birth tourism.
Since both announcements contain rounded minimum figures, the exact number of additional visas revoked during this period is unknown.
In its October announcement, the State Department noted that more than 700 of the revoked visas belonged to Chinese citizens. The November update does not provide a breakdown by nationality.
There is also no information on the number of Ukrainian citizens who may have been affected by these restrictions.
SThe State Department established a special task force to combat birth tourism on August 12, 2026. At the time of its creation, U.S. authorities had already reported the revocation of more than 600 visas issued to foreign nationals from various countries. The unit’s primary mission is to review the travel histories of foreign nationals, identify potential violations of visa laws, and identify the organizers of commercial birth tourism schemes.
The task force collaborates with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies. In August 2026, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order No. 14419, “Ending Birth Tourism,” which calls for stricter controls on the use of nonimmigrant visas for travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth.
The document authorizes U.S. authorities to take measures provided for by law, including denying visas, revoking previously issued entry permits, and imposing restrictions on individuals and organizations that facilitate such trips.
On September 23, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced additional visa restriction policies targeting foreigners involved in the commercial organization of birth tourism.
Specifically, restrictions may apply to owners and executives of relevant companies, intermediaries who assist in submitting false information on visa applications, as well as other participants in such schemes.
According to the State Department’s assessment, certain commercial companies earn tens of thousands of dollars by organizing trips for pregnant foreign women to the United States with the aim of securing U.S. citizenship for their children.
Under current U.S. regulations, a trip whose primary purpose is the birth of a child to obtain U.S. citizenship is not a valid basis for issuing a Category B visitor visa. At the same time, U.S. law permits foreign nationals to travel to receive medical services provided there are valid grounds and visa requirements are met.
The stated and actual purpose of the trip is of key importance. Concealing information from consular officers or providing false information may constitute grounds for visa denial or revocation.
Pregnancy alone does not automatically bar entry into the United States. The published data on more than 6,000 revoked visas also does not mean that the same number of people were deported from the United States or found guilty of criminal offenses. The new measures are aimed at regulating the visa process, not directly at changing the rules for children born on U.S. soil to acquire citizenship.
The issue of citizenship by birth is governed by specific provisions of U.S. law and remains the subject of legal and political debate.
For foreigners planning to travel to the U.S., the tightening of controls means they must more carefully verify the purpose of their visit, their financial resources, and the accuracy of the information provided in their visa documents.
According to Experts.news, Ukraine’s local budgets received 287.22 million UAH in tourist tax revenue from January through September 2026, which is 23%, or 53 million UAH, more than during the same period last year, according to the registration data monitoring service “OpenDataBot.”
According to analysts, compared to the corresponding period in pre-war 2021, tourism tax revenues nearly doubled in nominal terms.
The bulk of the payments came from legal entities, which transferred 154.25 million UAH—or 54% of the total amount—to local budgets. Individual entrepreneurs accounted for 132.97 million UAH, or 46%.
At the same time, the structure of revenues varies significantly by region.
In 16 regions of Ukraine, the majority of the tourist tax is paid by individual entrepreneurs. The largest share of such revenue was recorded in the Chernivtsi region, where entrepreneurs accounted for 87% of the total tax.
In only six regions do companies account for the majority of the tourist tax. The highest corresponding figure was recorded in Kyiv, where legal entities accounted for 81% of the revenue.
The budgets of Kyiv and Lviv Oblast received the largest amounts of tourist tax revenue over the first nine months of 2026—55.21 million UAH each. Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast ranks third with 40 million UAH, and Zakarpattia Oblast ranks fourth with 30.42 million UAH.
These four regions account for approximately 63% of Ukraine’s total tourist tax revenue.
The highest growth rates in payments were recorded in Rivne Oblast—47% compared to the same period in 2025—Transcarpathian Oblast—44%—and Cherkasy Oblast—43%.
The tourist tax is a local tax paid by individuals during temporary stays at hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and other lodging facilities. Businesses and sole proprietors providing such services act as tax agents.
Tax rates are set by local government bodies within the limits defined by the Tax Code of Ukraine. The funds collected are credited to the budgets of local communities.
The growth in tourism tax revenue reflects an increase in nominal tax payments; however, this does not in itself indicate a corresponding increase in the number of tourists, as the amounts are also influenced by tax rates and the structure of accommodations.
Based on results from January through September 2026, Lviv Oblast has practically caught up with Kyiv in terms of tourism tax revenue—both regions contributed 55.21 million UAH to their local budgets, according to data from the “OpenDataBot” service and data analysis by the Experts Club analytical center.
According to analysts, the difference between Kyiv’s and Lviv Region’s revenues is only 6,000 UAH. At the same time, the growth rates of these payments differ significantly.
In Lviv Oblast, the tourist tax increased by 30% over nine months compared to the same period in 2025, while in the capital, the increase was 8%.
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast ranked third in terms of revenue, with its local budgets receiving 40 million UAH in tourist tax.
The Zakarpattia region ranks fourth with 30.42 million UAH.
The combined revenue from these four regions totaled approximately 180.84 million UAH, or 63% of Ukraine’s total tourism tax revenue.
Revenue grew the fastest in the Rivne region, where payments increased by 47% over nine months.
The Zakarpattia Oblast showed a 44% increase, and the Cherkasy Oblast, a 43% increase.
According to “OpenDataBot,” in most regions, the tourist tax is primarily paid by individual entrepreneurs. This pattern is characteristic of 16 regions of the country.
In particular, in the Chernivtsi region, sole proprietors account for 87% of tourism tax revenue.
In Kyiv, the situation is the opposite: 81% of payments came from legal entities. This is one of the most notable indicators of the corporate sector’s dominance among tourism tax payers.
In total, over the first nine months of 2026, Ukrainian local budgets received 287.22 million UAH in tourist tax revenue. Compared to the same period the previous year, revenue increased by 23%, or 53 million UAH.
The tourist tax is one of the local taxes, the revenue from which remains in the budgets of local communities. It is paid by individuals temporarily staying in hotels and other lodging facilities, and the funds are remitted by tax agents designated by law.
Canada ranked first among the world’s safest countries for tourist travel in 2027, according to the American insurance company Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP), rising from fifth place in the previous study. Montreal topped the city ranking, moving from 16th to first place, the Experts Club information and analytical center reports.
According to the annual Safest Destinations 2027 study, published on October 28, 2026, Canada scored 82.47 points, ahead of New Zealand (81.31) and Australia (80.82). Iceland (78.85) and Japan (78.73) completed the top five safest countries.
Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal occupied the next positions. Overall, ten European countries were represented among the 15 safest tourist destinations.
The study’s authors highlighted Canada’s high level of personal safety, particularly for women, ethnic minorities and LGBT travelers. At the same time, large-scale wildfires, which can worsen air quality, were identified among potential risks.
Among the most notable changes in the country ranking were the Netherlands’ decline from first to eighth place, Norway’s rise from 23rd to 11th, Denmark’s improvement from 15th to ninth and Japan’s climb from ninth to fifth.
Montreal ranked first among the world’s safest cities with 82.18 points. Zurich took second place (81.03), followed by Amsterdam (80.81). Tokyo (79.91) and Reykjavik (78.90) completed the top five.
Montreal showed the greatest improvement among the leading cities, rising from 16th place in the 2026 ranking. Tokyo moved from ninth to fourth, Oslo from 17th to sixth, while Copenhagen dropped from second to 12th.
The BHTP ranking is based on surveys of American tourists who have personally visited the respective countries and cities, supplemented by international statistical indicators. The methodology considers crime levels, terrorism risks, transportation safety, access to healthcare and the protection of the rights of different population groups.
More than 1,500 respondents participated in the city survey, with the initial selection covering 38 popular tourist destinations.
Experts Club emphasizes that the ranking primarily reflects American tourists’ perceptions of safety rather than a universal assessment of living conditions or the business environment.
Ukraine and Serbia were not included among the 15 published leading countries, while Kyiv and Belgrade did not appear in the corresponding city ranking. However, absence from the list does not automatically indicate a low level of safety, as the study does not cover every country and city worldwide.
On November 6, 2026, Romania announced the launch of Dublat.com, a new travel booking platform that offers travelers free hotel stays during the off-season, provided they book a trip in December. The project was developed by the Romanian startup Novi Labs, which aims to increase occupancy rates at hotels, guesthouses, and vacation cottages during periods of low demand.
As reported by the Romanian business publication Economedia on November 5, the new platform uses a model whereby tourists pay standard rates for accommodations during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and, in return, receive additional free nights at the same property during the following months.
Specifically, for every two paid nights in December 2026, a tourist can receive one free night between January and May 2027.
Thus, booking four nights for Christmas or New Year’s could include two additional free nights for a return stay in the spring.
An important condition of the new program is that free nights can only be used at the same hotel, resort, or other tourist facility where the original reservation was made.
The dates of the return stay are determined at the time of the initial reservation. Hotel owners independently determine the list of rooms available under the program, as well as the dates covered by the promotion.
In particular, periods of high tourist demand, including the Easter holidays, may be excluded from the offer.
Thus, the program does not automatically provide free nights at any hotel in Romania. Its terms depend on the specific accommodation facility and room availability.
According to Adrian Oros, the founder of Dublat.com, the main idea is to create added value for tourists without having to lower accommodation rates during periods of peak demand.
“We don’t ask owners to lower prices; instead, we offer real added value. For every two paid nights in December, a guest can receive one night’s stay in the spring at the same location,” Oros noted.
Another distinctive feature of Dublat.com is its financial model for partnering with owners of vacation properties. According to the developers, the platform charges a commission of 5% of the booking price.
At the same time, there are no monthly subscription fees, listing fees, or hidden charges.
By comparison: according to the project’s initiators, commissions charged by major international travel booking platforms can range from 15% to 18% of the booking cost.
Thus, Dublat.com aims to offer owners of small hotels, guesthouses, and vacation cottages an alternative sales channel with lower intermediary service costs.
At the same time, free nights can encourage repeat visits by tourists during periods when demand for accommodations traditionally declines.
For the hospitality industry, this creates opportunities to generate additional revenue from food, tourist services, and other amenities, even when the room itself is provided free of charge.
The platform’s launch comes amid a relatively low level of utilization of Romania’s tourism infrastructure.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics of Romania (INS), the average occupancy rate for tourist facilities in 2025 was 29.8%, which is 1.1 percentage points lower than in 2024.
Thus, more than 70% of available capacity remained unused on average throughout the year.
In 2025, Romania’s tourism facilities welcomed approximately 13.9 million guests, a 2.4% decrease compared to the previous year.
The total number of overnight stays was 29.685 million, down 1.7%.
At the same time, the average length of stay for tourists in the country was only 2.1 days.
Domestic tourists make up the majority of guests at Romanian hotels and guesthouses. In 2025, Romanian citizens accounted for 81.4% of all arrivals, while foreign visitors accounted for 18.6%.
The uneven distribution of tourist demand creates additional challenges for the hotel industry, particularly in mountainous and rural tourist regions.
During the Christmas holidays, New Year’s break, and summer vacations, many establishments experience high occupancy rates. At the same time, from January through May, some hotels and guesthouses face a significant drop in the number of visitors.
Meanwhile, owners continue to incur ongoing expenses for building maintenance, staff salaries, utilities, and taxes.
This new booking model is designed specifically to address this problem.
The business model proposed by Novi Labs combines high-season bookings with repeat visits to tourist destinations during periods of lower demand.
For tourists, the advantage is the opportunity to enjoy additional nights of vacation without paying for accommodation.
For hotel owners, this system can ensure more even utilization of their room inventory throughout the year and increase the number of repeat guests.
This model may be particularly relevant for small hotels, family-run guesthouses, vacation cottages, and rural tourism facilities, which are heavily dependent on seasonal demand.
At the same time, the actual effectiveness of the new service will depend on the number of hotels that join the platform, the availability of promotional dates, and tourists’ interest in repeat trips.
Dublat.com is a Romanian digital project in the field of travel reservations, created by the startup Novi Labs. The platform is focused on developing domestic tourism, supporting small accommodations, and increasing the utilization of tourism infrastructure during the off-season.
