Russian/Nat In the days of Communism, Ukraine's tourist trade was guaranteed. Workers prevented from travelling abroad had little choice but to go on organised trips to the best beaches that the Soviet Union could offer. But today Crimea, the favourite seaside destination, is feeling the pinch. Since the collapse of Communism and the break-up of the Soviet Union, tourists with more choice and money opt for foreign resorts. The last of the Crimean summer. In a year when the whole of Europe has been blessed with the hottest summer for decades, the Ukraine's Cote d'Azur has been half-empty. Tourist numbers are down this year from eight million to less than two. Visitors are deserting Yalta and its surrounds amid reports of cholera in the area. Rampant inflation and the political arguments over Crimea are also contributing to the ebb in tourism. But it wasn't always like that. During the Soviet era the Crimea was the jewel in the crown of Soviet resorts. Millions of workers enjoyed the miles of sandy beaches and clean air, mostly heavily subsidised by the state, and often free of charge. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, cheap holidays for the masses have become a thing of the past. The Intourist Hotel has dominated the Yalta skyline for two decades. Millions of tourists as well as Communist political leaders from all over the world used to enjoy its wide range of facilities. But today the restaurants stand deserted and the roulette wheels no longer spin. Charging up to 200 U-S dollars for a room, the Intourist Hotel has been outpricing itself. The hotel's management have been given the option to buy the hotel outright. But business is so bad, that up to 2-thousand staff may have to be shed. The hotel's general director has sombre news. SOUNDBITE:(Russian) " We could buy it if we made enough profit. But this is doubtful under the present conditions. If our market will continue to develop in this way, I would not advise our collective to buy something which cannot guarantee jobs, however pretty it may look." SUPER CAPTION: Vyacheslav Osinsky, General Director, "Intourist", Yalta. Forbidden to travel abroad under Communist rule, Crimea was the most attractive holiday resort most people could aspire to. With the new freedom to travel, many Russians and Ukrainians go abroad, not only to discover new places, but because prices at home are too high in comparison. At this travel agency in Kiev, few people opt for Crimea when they can go to Spain or Turkey for less. A lone musician laments the passing of time on a Yalta sidewalk. To a great extent the Crimea is caught in a time-warp. The Livadia Palace, where Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt shared out the spoils of war now attracts few visitors. Until the resorts of the former Soviet Union learn the concepts of marketing and price competitiveness, it will be some years yet before the tourists come swarming back to the beaches of Crimea. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5adf197840d23186f23be7e10ea3bb5b Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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