Despite the prolonged war, the hotel sector in Ukraine is showing growth. As of mid-2024, there were 2017 hotel establishments operating in the country, indicating an increase in their number, even considering the loss of at least 12 large hotels due to hostilities.
This is reported by Business • Media
Reduction in Recreation Sector, but Growth in Hotel Business
Recent years have seen a significant decline in collective accommodation facilities: the number of tourist bases and camps has decreased by 33.5%, health resorts by 22.5%, wellness facilities by 83.3%, and sanatoriums by 8.5%, while recreation bases and guesthouses have reduced by 24.2%. At the same time, hotels (+9.1%), motels (+10.7%), and hostels (+28.7%) are demonstrating steady growth, making the hotel business the most resilient segment of the industry.
Geography of Accommodation and Changes in Demand
The highest concentration of collective accommodation facilities is observed in:
- regions of sea and summer recreation (Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson regions) — 1399 establishments or 34%;
- centers of business, educational, and industrial activity (Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv) — 585 establishments or 14.2%;
- recreational regions of mountain tourism and leisure (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk regions) — 611 establishments or 14.8%.
Although there are currently few hostels (around 80 establishments), they are rapidly emerging in relatively safe cities. This is due to the demand for affordable housing for internally displaced persons and volunteers.
“In the past two years, the highest growth was recorded in the western regions: in Lviv and the Carpathians, hotel occupancy rates reached 60-70% – levels comparable to leading global resorts.”
Experts also note that the war has affected the structure of demand. The highest hotel occupancy was observed in the western regions, particularly in Lviv and the Carpathians, where occupancy rates reached 60–70%. These regions are characterized by early bookings (30–40 days before arrival), while in eastern cities, booking windows were only 1–2 weeks. Demand is concentrated in safe regions, contributing to increased occupancy and rising accommodation rates.