Do you think that tourism, as a bridge-builder between peoples, can be the best weapon?

Let us be honest. A lot of people discovered that Ukraine exists since February, 24th. The terrifying news about the unprovoked russian war against Ukraine – became the key source of information.

They observed our country bleeding and shelling, expecting russian victory in a couple of days.

Then, they were amazed by our resistance. After all, everybody understood our passion and internal will to win. Now – the way to victory become more obvious.

In the nearest future tourism will become the best way to feel the true story of Ukraine in war.

I am not about facts and news. But about true understanding of the nation, that stopped russian hordes from going further.

In the future, tourism will become one of the most important things to understand, to feel and perceive the role of Ukraine in the global world puzzle.

After the hard blow to the national infrastructure and other problems related to a normal development of the tourism industry, where to start?

After Ukraine victory, tourism will be obviously changed. From the approaches to urban planning - safety issues with shelters at tourist sites, full-fledged plans for the evacuation in museums etc. – to the new tourist routes in the liberated territories.

Today we have the plan of Ukraine recovery developed by the Office of the President. It is for 10 years. It covers all the most important sectors of the economy, including tourism. We established a special working group that is responsible for this plan development and further recovery of the industry.

So far, to rebuild the damages cause by this aggression we estimate that the State and private investors will invest close to 200 billion dollars.

The numbers might be much higher though, as we cannot estimate the real damages until the full liberation of our land. But money is nothing. Ukraine pays by the blood and lives of our people for the European security.

From a tourist point of view, what can we find in a country where, despite such a tragic situation as the one they are living in at the moment, its citizens keep smiling at you at every corner?

Ukrainians learned to live and work in wartime conditions, thus supporting Ukraine's economy. Today we can even see that domestic tourism has gradually started to recover.

Nevertheless, we want the world to remember that Ukraine is a great tourist destination. Therefore, after our victory, we want to use our current interest in Ukraine and welcome foreigners to travel to our indomitable country and meet our brave citizens.

In Ukraine, you can find everything - city tourism, skiing, sea and beach. But the most important thing is the people you will meet during your travels. Our bravery is already the Ukrainian brand.

What are the main objectives on the agenda of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine?

To support the tourism business, to help transform and adapt to the conditions of the war. Our main tasks are to restore the tourism industry, to help our heroes’ rehabilitation, to develop the concept of war sites visiting in the de-occupied territories. And support the domestic tourism - encourage Ukrainians to travel, thereby supporting the Ukrainian tourism industry and the country's economy.

After the war, what are the main steps to be taken for the revival of the national tourism industry?

Thanking to Covid2019, we intensified domestic tourism. 2020 was almost the best year in terms of the development of domestic tourism.

In 2021, we welcomed more than 3 million of foreign tourists. For example, the visa free regime for Gulf countries had significantly increased the touristic traffic from this part of the world.

We had very ambitious plans for 2022. But the war made the corrections. During the first 6 months of 2022 taxes from the tourism sector dropped by 26%.

But today we can even see that domestic tourism has slightly started to recover. Domestic tour operators have already renewed their activities by 20-50% compared to last year. Ukrainians began to travel around the country. There is mostly a weekend getaway to relatively safe western and central regions. However, these trips are rather for a reboot, not for a vacation or rest.

What culturally defines the country's tourism offer?

Ukraine has very rich and diverse cultural product. Amazing opera scene and significant opera houses in Lviv and Odesa. Many festivals of electro, jazz and classic music, such as Atlas Weekend, Leopolis Jazz Festival and MozArt festival.

There are 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ukraine. These are the Cathedral of Saint Sophia and the adjacent monastic buildings, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the architectural ensemble of the historical center of Lviv, the residence of the metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia, the Tavrian Chersonese, the wooden churches in the Carpathian region of Poland and Ukraine, the Struve Arch, the ancient beech forests of the Carpathians. We have well-developed folk crafts, which are included in the list of intangible heritage of UNESCO and have always been an integral part of Ukrainian culture - Petrykiv painting and Kosovan ceramics. Ukrainian borscht was also recently added to this list.

Tourism and culture are closely related. What programmes are you developing in this strategic relationship to make known one of the great treasures of Ukraine's cultural identity?

Indeed, culture and tourism are closely connected. We have many joint projects with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. One of the largest one is the President’s program "Great Restoration", which was started in 2021. Together with colleagues from the ministry, we developed the criteria to include sites into this program. We assessed the tourist potential, developed the list of castles and other locations that might be attractive for travellers. The work was supposed to continue in 2022.

Unfortunately, the war postponed our planes. Terrorists from russia destroyed many monuments of culture and architecture during the seven months of the war. These losses are recorded by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. According to their latest data, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the russian occupiers have destroyed or damaged 388 cultural monuments.

DART is very also interested in cooperation within the Orange -Creativity Innovation and Technology (O-City) Project. The goals of O-City are to identify, popularize and expand the cultural (tangible and intangible) heritage of the cities. At the same time, it should stimulate the economy by training professionals (experts) in creative technologies to integrate this knowledge into existing or new companies. This goal will be achieved through the creation of multimedia elements (videos, video games, photos, 360º videos) that represent the heritage of cities (we call it cultural realities). These multimedia elements will be uploaded to the O-City platform.

Let's talk about the tourist areas that are being affected by the war, where to start?

I can say that SATD, together with the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Kyiv School of Economics, is already developing the strategy for the Crimea rapid recovery with the involvement of world best practices and global investors.

It is already obvious that the russians have turned Crimea into a military base and destroyed great part of the flora and fauna. However, after liberation, thanks to the President’s program, Ukraine intends to turn Crimea into one of the most attractive tourism destinations in the world. And of course, to do this transformation we will need the professional help of the entire world tourism community.

The Tourism and Society Think Tank is made up of experts in different areas involved in tourism development, tell us five areas where we could collaborate?

First of all, we are looking for partners who would help us to establish the Institute of Hospitality. We are interested in the professionals that can share their experience with us, give lectures and create educational programs. Second, it is important for us to receive expert advice on how to rebuild our healthcare facilities into rehabilitation facilities - to develop the rehabilitation program for the psychological and physical recovery of our military. The third, we are interested in the specialists that help us to develop the concept of visiting war memorials.

Fourth, you may help to promote Ukraine as a tourism destination in the world. And you can do it today. Tell about our incredible country and its brave fight for independence in your publications and websites.

Add Ukrainian dishes to the menu of your restaurants.

The fifth, is about strategic planning. We will be glad if global marketing agencies help us to create a strategy with which we will be able to attract as many tourists as possible after our victory.

Finally, Ms. Mariana Oleskiv, when can we hold a TSTT meeting in your country?

After our victory, Ukraine will be glad to welcome TSTT experts as guests.

Of course we would love to take the lead. We would feel much honored to host such an event and it would also give us the opportunity to promote the benefits and attractions of our country to broad global audience.

Dear Ms. Mariana Oleskiv, as the American writer Mark Twain said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness". Thank you for your time, kindness and injecting us with hope for the future.