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01.08.2025
On July 30, 2025, the Union of Rural Green Tourism of Ukraine, together with the Academy of Rural Development, held an informational online meeting on the topic: “How Ukrainians can join the Global Agritourism Conference 2026 in Scotland“.
🎯 The purpose of the event is to inform the Ukrainian audience about the opportunities of the Global Agritourism Network and the conditions for participation in the world conference on agritourism, which will be held in June 2026 in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The event was moderated by: Natalia Vengerska, Deputy Head of the Union of Rural Green Tourism of Ukraine, President of the Academy of Rural Development of the Union of NWT of Ukraine, Ph.D. Assoc. Prof., Lecturer in Business and Economics at the International Centre of Liverpool John Moores University, England (Ukraine/Great Britain) and Viktoriya Kiptenko, Vice President for International Affairs and Member of the Academy of Rural Development of the Union of North-West Ukraine, GSTC Certified Sustainable Tourism Expert, Member of the Global Agrtourism Network Definition & Standards Committee. Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine).
What is the Global Agritourism Network (GAN)
Speaker Viktoriya Kiptenko introduced the participants to the concept and structure of the Global Agritourism Network (GAN) – an international platform that unites specialists, farmers, researchers, educators and policy makers in the field of agritourism from all over the world. These are 1086 participants from 106 countries working on the development of agritourism worldwide. GAN has a clearly formulated mission — to increase the visibility, quality and sustainability of agritourism as a separate tourism direction, combining agriculture, culture and sustainable development.
Participation of Ukrainians in the global agritourism movement. Cases of Ukrainian rural businesses – winners of the international award World AgriTourism Day 2025
The participants learned that representatives of Ukraine are already actively involved in the activities of GAN. In particular, Viktoriya Kiptenko is a member of the Definition & Standards Committee, where, together with colleagues from countries around the world, she is working on creating a unified glossary and ethical principles of agritourism.
The Ukrainian team also shares cases from its practice, which helps to shape the international vision of agritourism as a tool for the revival of rural areas after a crisis, war or decline.
Victoria Kiptenko’s presentation “The Potential of Agritourism in the Revival and Neo-Rural Future of Ukraine” can be found at the link.
At the meeting, special attention was paid to the farms that became winners in the nominations of the international award World AgriTourism Day 2025. This is an award that is awarded annually by GAN for innovative, sustainable and inspiring practices in the field of agritourism.
“Frumushika Nova” among the winners of the World Agritourism Day 2025
Victoria Kiptenko emphasized that on May 15-16, 2025, an annual international event took place in India – the 18th World Agri Tourism Day (WAD). World Agritourism Day is an initiative of Agri Tourism India and the Global Agritourism Network (GAN), which is designed to support the development of agritourism as a sustainable tool for preserving cultural traditions and stimulating local economies. The theme of the 2025 conference is: “Innovation in Agritourism for a Sustainable Future: Empowering Rural Communities and Preserving Cultures”.
Ukraine was represented at the event by two cases that are business members of the Ukrainian Rural Green Tourism Union:
1) Rehabilitation Center and Cheese Factory “Zelenyi Gai” – owner of the center and cheese factory Yevgenia Molchanova and project manager Violetta Gurkush.
2) Agroecological Recreational Cluster “Frumushyka Nova” – Oleksandr Palariev, Director of the Cluster and Viktoria Kiptenko, Vice-President for International Activities of the Academy of Rural Development of the Union of Rural Green Tourism of Ukraine, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Regional Studies and Tourism, Faculty of Geography, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
Ukrainian Inspiring Cases
According to the results of the international jury’s vote, “Frumushyka Nova” received an award in the category “Outstanding Preservation of Cultural Heritage through Agrotourism”. Ms. Victoria presented “Frumushyka Nova” as an example of preserving and popularizing cultural heritage through agrotourism. In her report, she demonstrated the unique model of agrotourism “Frumushyka Nova” – a space that combines tourism, farming and cultural reflection. She paid special attention to: ethnographic objects; traditional dishes and local crafts; programs for children and adult visitors. The presentation aroused considerable interest among participants from India, Canada, Austria, Italy, the USA, South Africa and the countries of the Balkan region. Unfortunately, the Rehabilitation Center and Cheese Factory “Zeleny Gay”, although they were included in the list of nominees, did not manage to receive the award this year. We wish them further success in achieving world victories! These examples have become confirmation that Ukrainian agritourism not only meets world trends, but is also capable of setting them.
How can Ukrainians join the Global Agritourism Conference 2026 in Scotland?
In the second part of the meeting, Natalia Vengerska spoke about the host country of the next conference — Scotland, which has a strong tradition of family farming, rural development through tourism, and support for small businesses. The location of the Global Agritourism Conference 2026 — P&J Live in Aberdeen — is a modern conference center located next to the international airport. The conference will be combined with a visit to the Royal Highland Show, the largest agricultural event in Britain, which annually brings together farmers, gastronomic businesses, artisans, and agritourism projects.
How to apply for participation and what scholarships are available
The participants were invited to familiarize themselves with the structure of the application form and the requirements for applicants or speakers. Special attention was paid to the step-by-step instructions for submitting applications for a scholarship, the conditions of participation, deadlines, as well as the selection criteria. Natalya provided advice on how to prepare motivational answers, indicated that the deadline for applying for a scholarship is August 25, 2025.
Visa and financial aspects
Participants received information about: the cost of visas to the UK; document requirements and processing times; support from the conference organizers in the form of a visa cover letter after registration; the opportunity to receive free support from the Union of NWT of Ukraine in preparation for the trip: including preparation of applications, budget and consultations on a trip to Kyiv to submit biometric data.
For more details on the presentation “How to join the Global Agritourism Conference 2026 in Scotland?”, please visit the link.
Support and support
Ukrainian agritourism is more than trips to farms. It is about dignity, revival and the future that we create ourselves. It is about people who preserve traditions, introduce innovations and develop their communities.
Your story is unique. And it can become part of the global agritourism narrative.
We sincerely believe in the potential of Ukrainian farms and do everything to make the world hear about it. We are here to support everyone who wants to apply and dreams of making a contribution to the development of agritourism. For those who decide to apply for a conference or scholarship, the Ukrainian Rural Green Tourism Association provides free support in the form of 2-3 online Zoom meetings. We help with the formation of motivational applications, video presentations and visa issues.
📩 Write to us by August 10, 2025 at info@greentour.com.ua so that we have time to provide you with timely and high-quality support.
Next steps
Receiving international recognition is not only the individual success of individual initiatives, but also a powerful signal about the great potential of Ukrainian agritourism on the world stage. Ukrainian agritourism has something to say to the world: our practices are inspiring, our businesses inspire trust, and our heritage is unique and worth spreading. The Ukrainian Rural Green Tourism Association continues to actively work on the development of the industry, support of farms and promotion of the best Ukrainian examples in the international context.
Let’s make a statement about Ukraine on the global level together! Our farmers, our traditions and innovations are able to change the global narrative of agritourism. And we are already doing it!
This meeting was held free of charge thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian Rural Green Tourism Association. If you share our values and believe in the potential of Ukrainian agritourism on the world stage, support the organization with a donation. Each contribution is a contribution to the visibility of Ukraine on the global level, support of the professional team and new opportunities for Ukrainian farmers, estates and communities.
Donation details:
UA643052990000026006006801749, JSC CB “PrivatBank”, MFO 380269, code 21655662.
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Reason for transfer: charitable contribution
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Recipient: Union of NWT of Ukraine
Useful materials:
Global Agritourism Network. URL: https://globalagritourismnetwork.org/
The Global Agritourism Conference. URL: https://www.globalagritourismconference.com/
Visit Scotland. URL: https://www.visitscotland.com/
Scottish Agritourism. URL: https://scottishagritourism.co.uk/
Video recording of the information meeting “How Ukrainians can join the Global Agritourism Conference 2026 in Scotland URL: https://youtu.be/AcyaaiEYBUc
Authors of the article: Wengerska Natalia, Kornus Olesya
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