Feature: Eurovision Song Contest boosts businesses in Kiev

Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-11 21:57:50|Editor: xuxin
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KIEV, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Loud music, dozens of singers in eye-catching costumes and crowds of reporters ... The International Exhibition Center (IEC) in Kiev is preparing for a big party -- the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

But not far from the IEC, the main venue of Eurovision, people are not in a party mood. They have been working all day long to capitalize on the unusually high number of visitors flocking to Kiev.

PROMOTING SALES

Alla Kosukh, a 29-year-old cashier at a supermarket located within walking distance from the IEC, said the store has been experiencing a sales boom since last week when the international delegations arrived.

"Primarily, they purchase food and souvenirs associated with Eurovision. Besides, many foreigners buy traditional Ukrainian clothes, such as blouses and T-shirts with embroidery," Kosukh said.

She added that the supermarket will work around the clock until the end of the contest to meet the growing demand.

Lidia Kyrylenko, the owner of two shops selling Ukrainian-made beauty products, also said that Eurovision has become a driver of her business, generating additional revenues.

"We have opened an additional point of sale at the FeelUkraine entertaining zone at Kontraktova Square, where there are a lot of foreigners. They indeed show an interest in Ukrainian cosmetics, because, like all tourists, they are looking for something interesting during their trips, something that can not be bought at home," Kyrylenko said.

She pointed out that Eurovision may become a turning point for her business, as it gave her the idea to supply Ukrainian beauty products to Europe, which have good quality and affordable prices.

To attract more European customers, Kyrylenko provides free consultation and makeup workshops to her clients in English.

RESTAURANTS TURN CREATIVE

The restaurant business is also showing its creative side to obtain a slice of the Eurovision pie. A total of 100 Kiev restaurants carried out a unique loyalty program titled EuroRestoWeek for guests of the event.

Under the program, the restaurants offer music fans a special set meal of Ukrainian cuisine at a price of between 10 to 28 U.S. dollars, which includes two dishes and a drink.

Twenty-five-year-old Pavlo, a restaurant waiter at Poshtova Square, which participated in the program, said that since the start of Eurovision, the restaurants have always been busy.

"These days, we experience an influx of visitors -- both foreigners and locals. To be honest, we did not even expect such a boom. Sometimes, in the evenings, we have things on the menu that aren't immediately available for customers, because the restaurant runs out of ingredients for them," Pavlo, who preferred not to give his last name, told Xinhua.

A BOOST TO HOTEL INDUSTRY

Local private hotels also saw a boost in the booking of rooms during the song contest. The demand, however, was not as much as expected.

All 42 international delegations were accommodated in the 12 official hotels, leaving about 230 other hotels in Kiev in a fierce competition for customers.

"Several groups of Eurovision fans from Ukraine and Belarus are now accommodated in our hotel, but they have reservations not for the whole period of the contest. Some rooms are now empty. Honestly, we expected a greater increase in visitors," Iryna Petrash, a senior manager of Comfort Hotel located near the main Eurovision venue, told Xinhua.

She also voiced the hope that Eurovision would give a new impetus to the long-term development of her business, boosting room sales for months or even years to come.

"We hope that the competition will bear fruits in the future. Our guests have discovered Kiev and they are delighted with the city. We hope they will come back and recommend us to their friends," Petrash said.

The Eurovision Grand Final will take place on Saturday, with an anticipated 70,000 spectators at the IEC and at six official fan zones established in Kiev.

No matter which country will win the first prize in the Eurovision contest, Ukraine will be the real winner of the competition for improving the country's image and gaining a much-needed economic boost.

According to Kiev authorities, the contest is estimated to generate 20 million euros (about 21.8 million U.S. dollars) in additional revenues for private businesses in the city.

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