The Ukrainian city of Uman is preparing to welcome approximately 40,000 Breslover chassidim and other Yidden for Rosh Hashanah, similar to the number who traveled to the city last year.

The massive influx of visitors provides a major short-term boost to Uman’s economy, creating extraordinary demand for rental apartments, restaurants, stores, transportation and other services.

According to Ukraine’s State Agency for Tourism Development and Uman’s local government, visitors paid a record 20 million hryvnias in tourism taxes in 2025, up from approximately 17 million hryvnias in 2024.

For 2026, the daily tourism tax has been set at 432.35 hryvnias per person for private accommodations and 216.18 hryvnias for hotels and hostels. Authorities have also introduced a system allowing visitors to verify payments through digital scanning.

The tax revenue is directed toward the city’s infrastructure, education and healthcare systems, while local apartment owners, restaurants, stores and other businesses earn significantly from the tens of thousands of visitors.

However, the annual gathering also creates considerable expenses for Uman, particularly for sanitation, garbage removal and maintaining the area surrounding the tziyun of Reb Nachman of Breslov.

Last year, the city spent approximately 1.5 million hryvnias cleaning the area around the tziyun.

Despite the continuing war in Ukraine and the logistical challenges of reaching Uman, tens of thousands of Yidden are once again expected to make the journey to spend Rosh Hashanah near the tziyun of Reb Nachman.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)