Kyiv may need two years to return tourism industry to pre-pandemic levels - city administration

Deputy Chairperson of the Kyiv City State Administration Maryna Honda stated this at an online meeting with representatives of the embassies of the Netherlands and Finland, the press service of the Kyiv City State Administration reports.

“In 2020, Kyiv was visited by almost the smallest number of foreign tourists in the past 10 years. However, the capital and Ukraine remain a popular destination among foreigners. Moreover, after the easing of restrictions in the first half, 276,000 tourists visited Kyiv, and proceeds from the tourist tax amounted to almost 30 million in the first nine months. This means that the industry, even during the pandemic, remains promising and brings money to the budget. Nevertheless, the pandemic will end and we will have to return to normal life," Honda said.

According to her, the city authorities are already working to increase the number of tourists visiting Ukraine in general and Kyiv in particular. She added that almost all European countries for Ukraine, as well as Ukraine for Europeans, are a promising direction. As the countries are geographically close enough, the format of a weekend trip may be suitable for tourists.

She also added that most tourist visiting Kyiv came from Israel, the United States, Belarus, Germany and the United Kingdom.

As reported by Ukrinform, a total of 787,891 COVID-19 cases were laboratory confirmed in Ukraine on December 4, including 15,131 new cases reported in the past 24 hours.

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