By David Gold
April 24 – Fears over the escalating costs of hotel bookings in Ukraine ahead of this summer’s UEFA European Championships could be assuaged by an agreement with Ryanair that is reportedly close to being completed.
Last month concerns were raised by the apparent high cost of hotels in the country (pictured below), with a room in Donetsk on June 11, when England play France in Group D, reportedly costing 6,000 Ukrainian hryvnia (£462/$747/€567).
One hotel, of just a single star, was said to be charging visitors rates closer to £1,000 ($1,600/€1,225).
Speaking at the Donbass Arena, where the England versus France game will take place, Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov moved to allay the high-costs fears when he announced that the low-cost airline is planning to enter the country’s hotels market.
“I think that before the end of April this problem will have been resolved,” he said.
“We are in the final stages of signing an agreement with Ryanair concerning its entry into Ukrainian market.
“All fans will be able to calculate the cost of flight for every match and accommodation in Ukraine.”
He predicted: “I think from that moment the hotel prices will go down dramatically.”
Kolesnikov pointed out a return ticket from London to Donetsk will cost $300 (£185/€228).
Ryanair (pictured below, chief executive Michael O’Leary) already offers flights to the Polish cities of Gdansk, Wroclaw, Warsaw and Poznan, and its entry into Ukraine – joint host of Euro 2012 with Poland – would mean that supporters can spend more money on accommodation than flights.
UEFA officials have already expressed their concern about the cost of hotels, with President Michel Platini last week branding those hoteliers who charge excessive costs as “bandits.”
Ukraine’s preparations for the tournament have been troubled since it was named as co-host, with its transport networks and infrastructure causing particular concern with less than two months to go until the start of the competition.
As well as Donetsk, the Ukrainian cities of Lviv, Kharkiv and Kiev, where the final will take place on July 1, will hold matches during Euro 2012.
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