History

Initiator and organizer of the development of a new type of activity of rural and urban population since 1996, which has acquired the term “rural green tourism”.

Lobbyist: since 1999 – introduced into the legal field regulations to attract unemployed and partially employed rural population, development of rural green tourism: 1 law, 1 draft law, in particular, on 23.05.2017 the draft law No. 2232a “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Private Farming” regarding the development of rural green tourism” was adopted in the first reading, 2 Presidential Decrees, 6 Cabinet of Ministers’ acts, 3 departmental acts, in particular, the order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy No. 24 of 18.01.2013. 2013 on promoting the development of rural tourism until 2015 and holding a competition to determine the 100 best rural tourism estates in Ukraine; on December 14, 2017, the draft law No. 7400 “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine on Taxation of Income Received in the Field of Rural Green Tourism” was registered; in December 2017, the draft order “On Approval of Recommendations to the Owner of a Private Peasant and Family Farm on the Provision of Rural Green Tourism Services” was submitted to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.

Representation: since 1999 – in the Council on Humanitarian Policy and the Council on Rural Development under the President of Ukraine, the Interagency Council on Investment in the Agricultural Sector and the Council on Rural Development under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Council on Tourism and Resorts Development under the State Service of Tourism and Resorts, the Coordination Bureau for the preparation for the EURO 2012 football championship, the Council under the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the Coordination Council on Tourism under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, working groups.

The founder and holder of the certificate of state registration of the printed media magazine “Rural Green Tourism”: from 1997 to 2015, 44 issues were published with a circulation of more than 200 thousand copies. Since 2015, it has not been published in paper format; the possibility of publishing in electronic format is being studied. Website: www.greentour.com.ua, which was temporarily down (hackers destroyed the site). In 2018, work began on a new website to provide quality, safe and guaranteed services, information and legal protection of the Union’s members. The website is currently being tested, including its mobile version. We continue to develop a system of communication between the members of the Union through personal accounts.

The author and owner of the Ukrainian Hospitable Estate categorization program and the Green Estate ecolabel: the Ukrainian Hospitable Estate mark and certificate are held by 210 owners in 21 regions, including 96 of the basic level, 38 of the first, 41 of the second, 35 of the third (highest) level; the Green Estate mark and certificate are held by 49 estates in 7 regions, including 45 of the first level and 4 of the second level. A Ukrainian Standard of Organization is being prepared to enter the European market.

The initiator and organizer of the annual all-Ukrainian exhibition and fair “Ukrainian Village Invites”, which was held in 2003-2010 on the territory of the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine, and in 2011 – on the territory of the Expocenter of Ukraine.

Since 1999, he has participated in national and international tourism and agricultural exhibitions.

The Union includes: 8 expert advisors on rural development, marketing and rural tourism of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, 12 people defended their PhD and 1 doctoral dissertation on “rural green tourism”, the Union’s experts are the authors of 12 manuals and brochures on the organization of rural green tourism, published under the stamp of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Union of RGT of Ukraine.

The current Board of the Union includes: 1 owner of a NWT facility with 15 years of experience, 2 regional professional representatives, 1 Doctor of Law, 1 Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Doctor of Economics.

Founder: 2009 – School of Rural Green Tourism at the University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine: operates within the Institute of Postgraduate Education of NULES: more than 500 people have been trained and upgraded, including 52 members of the Union; 2016 – network structure “Ukrainian Rural Development Network”.
Author of projects: since 1997, more than 30 projects have been implemented with the support of international charitable foundations, in particular, the International Renaissance Foundation, Eurasia Foundation, EU TACIS program, British Council, AgroInvest project, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), in particular, in 2011 – the project “Via Regia – Ukraine – the cultural path of the Council of Europe”, 2012-2014 – project “Formation of the policy of development and functioning of rural green tourism in Ukraine”, 2013 – project “Promotion of economic development and employment”, 2016-2018 – participant of the UNDP project “Strengthening SME business associations”, 2017 – project “From disconnected estates to territorial clusters”, project “Agricultural and Rural Development Program”, USAID.

Partner: 1999-2017 – central executive authorities in the agrarian, tourism, social, regulatory, economic, and environmental sectors.

Values and core competencies: Responsibility, professionalism, practicality and benefit for farmstead owners and local communities.

Recognition: 12 initiators of rural green tourism development in Ukraine were awarded the Badge of the State Tourism Administration of Ukraine “Honorary Worker of Tourism of Ukraine”; Diploma of the winner of the All-Ukrainian professional tourism program “Crystal Stork 2000”; Diploma of the winner in the nomination “Best tourist publication in 2001”; Diploma “Ukraine Tourist. Personalities – 2007”; Diplomas of the International Tourist Salons “Ukraine”, Diploma and Certificate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Gratitude of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, honorary awards and diplomas of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, State Employment Center, State Service of Tourism and Resorts and other state institutions. More than 30 awards in total.

Seekers of new knowledge and experience: studied experience, did internships and participated in conferences in Hungary, Poland, Austria, Spain, Ireland, Greece, France, Sweden, the United States, Russia and other countries. The initiators have certificates from the World Tourism Organization and other international and Ukrainian institutions.