UITT, Ukraine’s largest exhibition for the travel industry, opens on 23 March in the IEC in Kiev. The event has become a regular meeting place for the industry and an opportunity for destinations to showcase the best their country has to offer to an increasing number of Ukrainian travellers, as well as tour operators and travel agents.

Statistics:
Edition: 17
Organiser: ITE Group Plc
Frequency: Annual Space: 10,490 m²*
Exhibitors: 648*
Countries and regions: 51*
Attendance: 17,318*
*Figures from 2010

UITT is a natural follow-up for MITT, comprising similar consumer spending power and expectations but still a stage behind Russia in terms of its tourism development, making it an ideal investment opportunity. Ukraine’s tourism industry is expected to develop substantially once the country returns to growth. According to Mykola Azarov, Ukraine’s Prime Minister, the economy will grow by 5% this year and between 5% and 10% in 2011. With this in mind, many international companies and destinations are investing now for the future.

UITT is Ukraine’s leading travel and tourism exhibition.  Last year saw a significant increase in visitors as consumer interest in overseas travel grows – visitor figures were up 9% compared with 2009.

This year, the range of tourism products at the exhibition will be greater than in previous years, with new sectors focusing on promising areas such as medical tourism, cruise lines, domestic tourism, information technologies in the tourism industry, insurance, etc. As in the past, Crimea and the Carpathians will be widely presented. Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius and Reunion, which presented their products to the Ukrainian market for the first time at UITT 2010, are planning further development in the Ukrainian market, increasing the quantity and quality of their offerings. Israel has doubled the size of their stand at the show, to 200 m² - Ukraine is the eighth largest source country for tourists to Israel, with 90,500 Ukrainians visiting in 2010 and a predicted 130,000 in 2011, following the cancellation of visas in 2010.

For the first time, UITT will feature the Tanzania National Tourism Board, the Jurmala Regional Tourism Board (from Latvia) and the Sri Lanka National Tourism Board, who exhibits together with Ukraine International Airlines, which began offering flights from Kiev to Colombo in December 2010.

For the first time, Canada (Dubman Tours) Portugal (Lendatravel), UK (BSI) and US (Team America, American Best Getaways and New Tours) will be represented at the show. Natalie Tours, one of the largest tour operators in the CIS, will be participating for the first time. There will also be companies from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Dominican Rep, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Slovak Rep, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Tunisia.

Every year, a number of events take place during UITT. This year, they include:

  * Day of Spain, organised by Natalie Tours and Turespana on 24 March.
  * Discover Ukraine, a new sector at the exhibition focusing on domestic tourism programmes.
  * Seminar on receiving tourists during Euro 2012, organised by the Kyiv City State Administration.
  * An international conference entitled ‘Spa in Ukraine ‘11’, organised jointly with the Ukrainian Spa Association on 23 March.
  * The 5th edition of the international business forum ‘Small Hotels & Apartments of Ukraine’, organised with the Association of Small Hotels & Apartments of Ukraine on 25 March.
  * The 6th edition of the MICE Ukraine international conference entitled ‘Business Tourism – Ukraine’, which will give delegates an insight into the industry, its audience, trends and prospects. It will also give participants a valuable opportunity to network with their peers.
  * A section of the show will be dedicated to the growing market for medical tourism.

A quote from the Head of Sales for ITE Travel Exhibitions, Maria Badakh: “This year’s UITT exhibition will feature a wide range of destinations to tempt Ukraine’s increasing population of travellers. As the markets recover, there are huge opportunities to gain market share in a country known to offer an excellent return on investment. The exhibition is the best place to find out more and meet partners to help realise that potential. See you in Kiev!”

UITT’s official partners are: The Ministry of Culture & Tourism of Ukraine, Kyiv City State Administration, UNWTO, PATA, ITTFA and CECTA. It is also an ‘UFI Approved’ event (UFI is the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry). The general media partner for the event is Interfax Ukraine.