New rules for the tourism business are being prepared in Ukraine: what will change for tourists, hotels and tour operators

Ukraine plans to extensively update its tourism legislation. The new rules will provide for enhanced protection for tourists, the introduction of financial guarantees for tour operators, regulation of short-term rental of housing, and the creation of a single tourist register. The adoption of the relevant draft law is also an important step on the path to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

The Cabinet of Ministers held a meeting of representatives of the authorities and the tourism business, dedicated to draft law No. 4162 “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Tourism” and Some Other Legislative Acts on the Basic Principles of Tourism Development”.

The document is intended to bring Ukrainian legislation closer to European standards and create more transparent conditions for the tourism market.

What changes does the new law on tourism provide for

The draft law covers several key areas of reforming the tourism industry.

In particular, it is proposed to:

Introduce transparent and equal rules of operation for travel companies.

Strengthen the responsibility of tour operators for violating the law.

Create mechanisms for financial guarantees to protect tourists.
Regulate short-term rental of housing through online platforms.
Develop a Unified Tourist Register.
Establish requirements for the qualification of tour guides, taking into account regional characteristics.

The possibility of allowing individual entrepreneurs to carry out tour operator activities is being discussed separately.

The issue of directing part of the tourist tax to the development of local tourist infrastructure is also being considered.

Tourists are planned to be better protected from unscrupulous tour operators

One of the priorities of the legislative changes is to strengthen the protection of the rights of consumers of tourist services.

In particular, the draft law provides for financial guarantee mechanisms in case the tour operator fails to fulfill its obligations to clients.

It is also about creating an effective mechanism for the return of Ukrainian tourists from abroad in the event of problems with the travel company.

In addition, the introduction of mandatory advance information to tourists about the language of excursion service during foreign trips is being discussed.

Such changes should increase the responsibility of companies and reduce risks for citizens who purchase tourist services.

Renting accommodation through online platforms may be regulated

A separate direction of reform concerns short-term rental of accommodation through digital platforms.

The draft law provides for the introduction of rules that will comply with European approaches to regulating this market.

It is also planned to develop a Unified Tourist Register, which will simplify the registration of tourism service providers, ensure the collection of reliable statistics and provide consumers with access to information about accommodation facilities.

It is expected that such mechanisms will contribute to the transparency of the tourism market and counteract shadow activities.

Why the adoption of the law is important for Ukraine’s accession to the EU

Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy – Minister of Culture Tetyana Berezhna emphasized that updating tourism legislation is part of Ukraine’s European integration obligations.

According to her, the state must bring the rules of the tourism industry closer to the standards of the European Union and ensure the adoption of the necessary legislative changes.

The Verkhovna Rada supported Bill No. 4162 in the first reading on April 29, 2021.

After that, the relevant parliamentary committee processed more than 1,300 amendments. In 2025, the document was prepared for the second reading and recommended for adoption as a whole.

The head of the parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Mykyta Poturayev, noted that the bill remains relevant, although some of its provisions may need to be revised taking into account modern conditions.

How much money does tourism bring to the Ukrainian budget

According to the State Agency for Tourism Development, in 2025, tax revenues from the tourism industry increased by 35.7% compared to the previous year.

The State Agency for Tourism Development emphasizes that the current law, adopted back in 1995, does not fully meet the modern needs of the market.

Updating the legislation should contribute to the development of tourism infrastructure, increase revenues to the state and local budgets, as well as create competitive conditions for business.

Currently, draft law No. 4162 has not yet been adopted in its entirety. The Ministry of Culture, together with DART and industry representatives, continues to work on harmonizing its provisions for further consideration by the Verkhovna Rada.