Ivan Franko National University of Lviv hosted the 12th International Scientific Conference on Tourism

On 12-14 October 2018, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, hosted the XII International Scientific Conference ‘GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMY AND TOURISM: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE’.

The conference was organised by the Faculty of International Relations and the Department of Tourism of the Faculty of Geography of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. The plenary and sectional sessions of the conference were held in the most beautiful hall of the university – Dzerkalna.

The Rector of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Professor Volodymyr Melnyk, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, Professor Markiyan Malsky (diplomat, until recently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland), Volodymyr Bilaniuk, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Head of the Department of Tourism, Professor Marta Malska welcomed the distinguished gathering.

Sections and scientific directions of the conference:

● Section a – geospatial aspects of tourism activity;

Section b – history of tourism;

Section c – topical issues of country studies and international tourism;

Section d – economic and social problems in tourism;

Section e – organisation and economics of the hotel and restaurant business;

Section f – modern forms and types of tourism;

Section g – tourism local history.

Working languages of the conference: Ukrainian, English, German, Polish.

Topical issues of tourism development brought together experts from leading universities in Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Belarus and other countries. Representatives of different countries shared their experience and information on innovative tourism trends.

Of particular interest to the audience was the report of Professor Tetiana Kalna-Dubiuk ‘Interactive consulting systems and their application in rural green tourism’ about the creation of an innovative electronic advisory system on the basis of NULES of Ukraine, which can be successfully used in tourism, in particular in rural tourism.

In her report, Associate Professor Olena Lokutova acquainted the esteemed society with the work of the Institute of Postgraduate Education of NULES in the direction of conducting field training courses in rural tourism for representatives of local executive authorities and self-government, state and public organisations, owners of private peasant and farming enterprises, as well as with the capabilities of our university in training specialists in this field.

By the way, the Department of Agricultural Consulting and Tourism has been working closely with the best specialists of the Geography Department of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in the field of rural tourism for about five years now, in particular with Yurii Zinko, Associate Professor of Tourism, Chief Expert Advisor and Member of the Board of the NGO ‘Union for the Promotion of Rural Green Tourism in Ukraine’.

The scientific programme of the conference was organically continued by an unforgettable cultural programme, including a performance by the men’s choir of the Ivan Franko National University of Kyiv in the cosy courtyard of the Geography Faculty.

The tourist programme of the conference included wonderful excursions – ‘Tourist Resources of Skole District’ (Tustan Fortress, Skole) and to the grave of Prince Sviatoslav.

Based on the conference materials, the scientific collections ‘Geography and Tourism’ and ‘Archives of Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Science’ (Wyższa szkoła spoleczno-przyrodnicza im. Wincentego Pola) were published.

Professor of the Department of Agricultural Consulting and Tourism, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Tetiana Kalna-Dubiuk,

Associate Professor Olena Lokutova