In 2024, 251,286 tourists used the services of one of Ukraine’s largest tour operators, Join UP! This is the best figure for the last three years of war: almost 7% more than in 2023 and 58.3% more than in 2022, the company’s press service toldInterfax-Ukraine.
“2024 was the period of maximum adaptation of Ukrainian tourists to travel from neighboring countries. People have realized that traveling from another country, even with transfers, is already commonplace. We have seen an increase in demand for air tours and budget bus trips to nearby destinations. All of this shows the flexibility of Ukrainian tourists who have learned to plan their trips under restrictions,” comments Iryna Mosulezna, Managing Director of Join UP! Ukraine”.
The peak season in 2024 was traditionally the summer season. Most tourists traveled in June and July – 35,544 and 36,229 respectively. The quietest month last year, as in 2023, was February, when 8,518 tourists used the tour operator’s services. At the same time, this is 21.24% more than in the previous year, when only 7,026 tourists traveled, which indicates a gradual recovery of interest in travel even in winter.
Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro remained the most popular summer destinations. Year-round Egypt also remained in the top preferences of Ukrainians for summer vacations. Over 100 thousand tourists chose this destination last year. In winter, in addition to Egypt, where Ukrainians traveled most often, they also chose the exotic UAE, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and the Dominican Republic. The popularity of these destinations demonstrates the willingness of tourists to invest in exotic travel and discover new cultures despite economic instability.
As reported, Join UP! LLC was established in 2013, with an authorized capital of UAH 72 million 671 thousand. The ultimate beneficiaries are Yuriy and Oleksandr Alba. According to the company’s annual reports, by the end of 2024, revenue decreased to UAH 376 thousand from UAH 16 million 639 thousand in 2023, and net loss – to UAH 217 million 451 thousand from UAH 233 million 341 thousand, respectively.
The brand’s international expansion covers eight markets: the Baltic States, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Preparations for the launch of operations in Slovakia and Hungary are nearing completion. Last year, the brand also opened its first international franchise agency in Katowice, Poland.
The number of foreign tourists who visited Spain in October increased by 9.5% year-on-year to 8.96 million people, according to the national statistics office INE.
This is a record figure for October in the entire history of observations, that is, since 1995.
Most of the tourists came from the UK last month – 1.79 million (+4.8% compared to October 2023), followed by Germany (1.3 million, +14% yoy), and France (1.16 million, +16.7% yoy).
The number of visitors from other European countries increased by 14.7% to 817.28 thousand people.
In October, 7.49 million tourists arrived in Spain by air (+7.8% yoy), 1.19 million by road (+17.7%), 265.48 thousand by water (+30.7%), and 27.18 thousand by rail (-2.5%).
Catalonia received the largest number of tourists (20.4% of the total), followed by the Balearic Islands (17.8%) and Andalusia (15.3%).
Total expenditures by visitors to the country increased by 15.5% year-on-year to 11.9 billion euros, or an average of 1,327 thousand euros per person. Tourism accounts for 12-13% of Spanish GDP.
In January-October, tourist arrivals to Spain increased by 10.8% to approximately 82.9 million people.
The tourist fee of Ivano-Frankivsk region for January-July 2023 amounted to 10.4 million UAH, which is 6% lower than in the same period of 2022.
“So far, minus 6% (seven months of 2022/2023) and minus 21% (month to month 2022/2023). These figures demonstrate the decline in tourist traffic,” – wrote in Facebook the head of the tourism department of the Department of international cooperation, European integration, tourism and investment Ivano-Frankivsk OVA Vitaly Perederko.
According to him, the largest receipts for the period were received by Polanytsia (UAH 5.99 million), Yaremchany (UAH 1.953 million), Ivano-Frankivsk (UAH 1.081 million), Vorokhtyanska (UAH 529.71 thousand) and Verkhovyna (UAH 138.84 thousand) territorial communities.
Bali authorities have decided to levy a tourist tax on foreigners from 2024, with the funds to be used to preserve cultural heritage, The Jakarta Post reported.
“Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors every year, and the island is trying to capitalize on its popularity to replenish the treasury and protect cultural heritage. From 2024, foreign tourists traveling to Bali from abroad or other parts of Indonesia will be charged a one-time tax of $10,” the Post writes.
As the newspaper notes, payment of the tax will be made through an electronic payment, which will have to be made before arrival on the island.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster believes that the new levy will not lead to a decrease in tourist traffic.
“I don’t think the numbers will be lower. We plan to use the revenue from the tourist tax to preserve the environment and culture, build better infrastructure to make traveling to Bali more comfortable and safe,” he explained.
In 2022, more than 2 million foreign tourists visited Bali, but since the beginning of 2023, the island has seen an increase in violations of cultural norms and migration laws by foreign tourists, so the authorities no longer want to develop mass tourism.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Tinh has instructed to prepare amendments to the law on entry, exit and transit of foreigners and to extend visa-free stay for them from 15 to 45 days, according to Vietnam Net.
“The majority of cabinet members agreed with the proposal to increase the visa-free stay in Vietnam for tourists from a number of countries from 15 to 45 days, and the period of stay on an online visa from 30 to 90 days,” the publication writes.
Currently, Vietnam offers a single-entry electronic visa for a month for tourists from 80 countries.
Vietnam has become one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to fully open to international tourism after the pandemic coronavirus. Last year, only 3.6 million tourists visited the country, 20% of the pre-pandemic level.
In 2023, Vietnam plans to welcome 8 million foreign travelers.
China resumes issuing tourist visas to foreign nationals from March 15, the consular service of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
“Chinese consulates abroad will resume issuing all categories of visas to foreigners starting Wednesday, March 15. The decision was made to further facilitate border crossings,” said a message posted Tuesday on WeChat.
In addition to resuming new visas, entry will be allowed for visas issued before March 28, 2020, that have not expired.
“The new visa policy will also allow the resumption of visa-free travel for tourists to Hainan Island, passengers arriving on cruise ships to Shanghai, and tourist groups from Hong Kong, Macau and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to the country’s southern regions,” the statement said.
On the sites of Chinese embassies of some countries, including the U.S. and France, there were reports on the resumption of visas for foreign nationals.
China lifted entry and exit restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic as of Feb. 6.
China welcomed 65.7 million foreign tourists in 2019.
