Ukraine presented the tourism development program for European region at the UNWTO General Assembly.
At the 69th session of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) European Commission, Ukraine, as the head country of the European sector, presented the tourism development program for the region for the years 2024-2025.
The session took place within the framework of the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly, which commenced in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Chair of the State Agency for Tourism Development, Mariana Oleskiv, who led the Ukrainian delegation, expressed Ukraine's readiness to integrate into the European tourism environment and proposed collaborating with representatives of the civilized world to jointly plan the revival of this direction in Ukraine:
"Ukraine's permanent membership testifies to our strength in this field and opens up new opportunities for cooperation and exchange of experience with other European and global countries. We will work on creating a favorable business environment for the development of the tourism industry, promoting investments, and fostering partnerships with international companies.
Ukraine has the potential to become an outstanding tourist destination attracting people from all over the world. We are not just dreaming of a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine. We are working on it every day. I sincerely hope that our experience will play a key role in shaping the new architecture of European tourism, as, in my opinion, this industry is a fundamental indicator of peace and prosperity for any country in the world," emphasized Mariana Oleskiv.
The Ukrainian delegation, presenting the Tourism Development Program in the European region, suggested that ECTT member countries concentrate their efforts over the next two years on the development of sustainable tourism, specifically:
- focusing on promoting lesser-known destinations and actively working to attract tourists to them;
- allocating more attention to education and training for tourism industry professionals, thereby improving the quality of services;
- strengthening cooperation with governments and the private sector to facilitate cultural exchange, fostering understanding between nations;
- making tourist trips accessible to all travelers regardless of age, abilities, or interests.
Addressing representatives of ECTT member countries, the head of the Ukrainian delegation noted that the adoption and implementation of this program will allow the tourism sector in the region not only to recover rapidly in the post-pandemic period but also to expand its possibilities.
"Together, we can make tourism that positive force that unites people, promotes economic development, and protects the natural and cultural wonders of our continent," emphasized the Chair of SATD.
It is worth noting that in April 2022, as a result of SATD's efforts, Russia was excluded from the members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). To date, this is the only case of Russia's exclusion from an organization operating under the auspices of the UN.
On June 1, 2023, at the 68th session of the UNWTO European Commission, Ukraine was unanimously elected as the chair of this body.
