October 01, 2013 16:32 | Share |
Tourists flock to Crimea
Yalta city Mayor Sergei Ilash says his city hosted more than 500,000 vacationers and tourists this year, some 8% more than during the 2012 summer holiday season. «Occupancy of Yalta region resorts is up 4%. Resorts and health centers are filled to 115% capacity, compared to 111% in 2012. The growing numbers of tourists during the summer vaction period was facilitated by several events that traditionally attract people the world over. Some 5 out of 12 Yalta beaches participating in this year’s «European Blue Flag» competition received international certificates. Experts say tourism is one of the growth drivers for Ukraine’s economy. Vice Prime Minister Oleksander Vilkul said the following: «Tourism means new jobs, it represents a entire economic cluster, which in turn improves the image of our nation.» Vilkul added the government’s tourism strategy has been elaborated in the state tourism target plan for the development of tourism and resorts through 2022. The strategy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers as Order No638-r, dated August 1, 2013. The plan includes steps to determine tourism specialization of the regions and tourism zoning of the country. It also applies to the tourism priority territories and creates conditions to attract investment. The program envisions an action plan to align Ukrainian legislation and regulatory framework with the European Union standards, deregulate tourism sector and introduce public-private partnership in tourism sector, as well as to improve statistical reporting in the industry based on the methodology of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Experts say that by developing tourism, Ukraine will be able to significantly increase its gross domestic product (GDP). For example, in Bulgaria, 11% of GDP is generated by tourism. In Ukraine, by comparison, the contribution of tourism to the GDP amounted to 28.8 billion UAH, or 2.2% of GDP. Ukraine has bright prospects to become a leading tourist destination in the region. Some 10% of the total tourist flow in the world is concentrated around the Black Sea. Another neighboring country, Turkey may serve as another example of the fabulous profits that can be generated by tourism. The country’s income from tourism was up 1.8% year-on-year, to 23.4 billion USD. Government analysts stress that the modern tourist industry is one of the most profitable and dynamic sectors of the world economy. It accounts for about 10% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product, 7% of the total investment, 11% of global consumer spending and one third of world trade in services. According to World Tourism Organization, 80% of world inbound tourism is included among the top five leading export items. For 40% of countries, tourism is a primary export item. An additional 40% of countries report tourism revenues exceeding 1 billion USD. Since 1998, tourism revenues in the industry leader countries have been ahead of earnings from export of oil products, motor vehicles, telecommunications equipment, textiles and other goods and services. Tourism is one of the few types of business that continued to grow even during the crisis, government analysts say. |