Press release

15th Anniversary of the Ukraine International Travel & Tourism Exhibition, UITT 2009

UITT 2009 will take place on 25-27 March 2009 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev, Ukraine.  This year will mark the event's 15^th anniversary.  Over the years, the size of the exhibition has increased dramatically and it has become the leading travel trade event in Ukraine, generating interest from all around the world.

UITT is an annual meeting place for tour operators, airlines, travel agencies, national and regional tourist committees, insurance companies, hotels and resorts.  The exhibition has become a platform from which to market global tourism services, air travel, air and rail tickets, accommodation and hotel booking, recreational tourism, cruises, ecotours, excursions, conferences, seminars, incentive travel, educational tourism and insurance services.

This year, UITT will occupy more than 12,500 m², featuring traditional destinations, such as Western Europe, Asia, North and South America, and more ‘exotic' countries, such as Brazil, Lebanon, Morocco and Ecuador, who will be participating for the first time.

The number of exhibitors grows every year, reflecting increasing interest from domestic and foreign tourism companies.  This year, more than 550 companies from 49 countries will be taking part in the show, as well as national group stands from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, and Tunisia.  Bulgaria and Italy (ENIT) have doubled their stand size this year. This year's partner destination is Dubai (UAE).

Many tour operators will be holding seminars during the exhibition.  In addition, the 4^th international MICE conference entitled, ‘Business Tourism - Ukraine', will be held on 27 March, moderated by Mr. Vadim Grabarchuk, President of Association for Business Tourism of Ukraine.  Conference participants will have the opportunity to gain an objective overview of the conferences industry in Ukraine, learn about the MICE industry and catering, gain business contacts, discover the best formats for business events and find out about the prospects for further development of business tourism in Ukraine and Europe.

The 3^rd international forum for ‘Small Hotels and Apartments in Ukraine' will take place on 26 March, supported by the Association of Small Hotels and Apartments of Ukraine, Pan Ukrainian Hostel Organisation, etc.

The 10^th international exhibition for hotels, restaurants and resort equipment and technologies, Hotel & Restaurant Expo Ukraine 2009, the 6^th international trade show for the cleaning industry, CleanExpo Ukraine, and the 3^rd international exhibition for franchising and other business opportunities, Brand4Rent, will take place alongside UITT 2009, enabling UITT exhibitors to attract a new audience of visitors.

Ukraine is widely recognised as having the second most attractive tourism market in Eastern Europe after Russia.  More than 17 million Ukrainian tourists travel abroad every year and they are already becoming known as big spenders.  Ukrainian tourists have experienced the delights of their neighbouring countries and are now ready to expand their horizons, despite the economic crisis.  Ukraine's tour operators have adapted to these changes, which is reflected by the quantity of exhibitors at UITT 2009 and by the events held during the exhibition.  The main task for Ukraine's tour operators over the next few years is to propose holidays that will be both low cost and high quality.  UITT exhibitors are united in wishing to give their customers what they want.  Besides expensive tours to exotic countries, UITT will present a number of interesting tourist routes within Ukraine, which will help to build the country's internal tourism industry.  More than 100 Ukrainian tour operators will be taking part in the 2009 show.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Ukraine is increasing rapidly; in 2008, 1.7 million people visited Ukraine, 300,000 more than in 2007.  The growth of the dollar and euro has made it 57% cheaper for foreigners to spend their holiday Ukraine.  The improved visa procedure between Ukraine and Europe, USA, Canada and Japan has also contributed to the rise in inbound tourism. Ukraine's tourism industry will be on full display at UITT, in Pavilion 2.

The 2009 exhibition will, for the first time, feature companies involved in medical tourism in Ukraine and abroad.  Visitors will be able to discover the best medical resorts from well-known operators, such as YEDITEPE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ANADOLU MEDICAL CENTER (AMC), Shveitsarsky Dom, HUMANOMED Management GmbH, ELISHA, medical centre, IMER Ltd, KURFOTEL BAD PIRAWARTA GmbH & Coka, PHS Premium Health solutions Austria-BTU Business Travel Unlimited Reisebroges.m.b.H, TERME KRKA, ASSUTA, medical centres etc.

Notes to Editors

On the first two days (25-26 March 2009), the exhibition will be open for trade visitors only.

UITT was first launched in 1994.  In 2008, the exhibition covered 14,215 m² and featured 892 companies from 58 countries, including 339 national and 349 international exhibitors (and 204 sub-exhibitors).  The exhibition attracted more than 13,240 attendees.

UITT is organised by Premier Expo (Ukraine) and ITE Group Plc (UK) and is supported by the Parliament Committee for Family, Youth Policy, Sports, and Tourism, Kyiv City Administration, the Ministry for Tourism and Resorts, the National Tourist Organisation of Ukraine, regional state administrations, etc. 

The exhibition is a member of the International Tourism Trade Fair Association (ITTFA), the United Nations World Travel Organisation (UNWTO), the Central European Countries Tourist Association (CECTA), the Pacific Asian Tourist Association (PATA) and the International Congress and Conference Association (ICCA).

It is sponsored by Mezhdunarodny Tourism Magazine, Karya Tour, Ukrainskaya Turisticheskaya Gazeta and Information Agency Interfax-Ukraine.