New system of tourist tax payment for Hasidic pilgrims launched in Uman
16 September 2025 13:19
A pilot project to introduce a new system of fast and transparent payment of tourist tax for pilgrims has been launched in Uman. The initiative was implemented by the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine in partnership with the Uman City Council, the Uman Historical and Cultural Center Charitable Foundation, Sense Bank, and researchers from Lviv Polytechnic National University’s SID City Scientific Park,
An annual challenge for the city
Every year, about 40,000 Hasidic pilgrims from around the world arrive in Uman to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Most of the guests stay in the private sector – houses, apartments, or rented rooms.
However, for many years there has been a problem with controlling and collecting tourist tax, which has led to significant losses for the local budget.
“After last year’s Rosh Hashanah celebration, we saw all the problems and mistakes that arose with the payment of the tourist tax. That’s why our foundation, in partnership with the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, has been working for a year to create a unified, transparent and convenient payment system. We are convinced that the new mechanism will help avoid misunderstandings and make the city budget revenues stable and controlled,” said
[Kommersant] iryna Rybnytska, Executive Director of the Uman Historical and Cultural Center Charitable Foundation, told "Komersant Ukrainian".
How the new system will work
From now on, tourists and pilgrims will be able to pay the tourist tax in advance through a banking service using the link posted on the official website of the Uman City Council.
The funds received will be automatically transferred to the account of Kommunalnyk, the utility company designated as the tax agent.
After payment, the user receives a receipt with a QR code that will allow employees of the Communal Guard to quickly verify the fact of payment.
For the convenience of pilgrims, self-service terminals will also be installed in the city, where they can pay directly on the spot.
The amount of the fee
According to the decision of the Uman City Council, foreign tourists and pilgrims will have to pay a tourist tax of 5% of the minimum wage. As of September 2025, this amounts to UAH 400 per day per person.
The tax applies to all types of temporary accommodation: hotels, private houses, apartments, cottages, mansions, or rooms.
Transparency and control
DART emphasizes that the new system will ensure transparency of financial flows and increase revenues to the local treasury. This will enable the city to better plan spending on infrastructure and services for tourists who come to Uman every year to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
