ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE’S HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN THE CONTEXT OF POST-CRISIS TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the economic aspects of the development of Ukraine's hotel and restaurant industry (HoReCa) under the conditions of post-crisis transformation. The need for such a study is determined by the deep structural deformations caused by the full-scale war initiated by the Russian Federation in 2022, as well as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, energy insecurity, and the global economic crisis. The hospitality industry has been significantly affected by security risks, population displacement, infrastructure losses, and a decrease in consumer demand, which collectively hinder its sustainable development. The purpose of the study is to identify key economic factors affecting the performance and resilience of HoReCa enterprises, evaluate spatial disparities in business recovery, and substantiate strategic directions for the sector's adaptation during prolonged instability. The methodology is based on the analysis of statistical data provided by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, open sources such as Forbes Ukraine and Opendatabot, and sectoral reports by Pro-Consulting, Poster POS, KSE Institute, and HoReCa Ukraine. The study applies comparative, structural, and index analysis methods to assess both the quantitative dynamics and economic sustainability of the sector. The study examines the evolution of key indicators such as gross revenue, average check size, and the number of active establishments from 2021 to 2024. The study reveals that businesses in the sector are forced to restructure: relying on flexible formats, cost-saving innovations, alternative energy sources, and localized customer targeting. The research highlights institutional constraints on recovery, such as limited access to financing, insufficient state support for small businesses, and the absence of coordinated regional recovery strategies. The work also identifies the need for differentiated policy measures depending on regional conditions: investment incentives in relatively safe areas, infrastructure recovery support in the central region, and risk-based subsidies or tax relief in frontline territories.