Viral Reality, or How Green Tourism Got a Unique Chance for Development

Quarantine measures have stopped tourist flows around the world. Of course, this includes Ukraine. In order not to expose themselves to additional danger, the Ministry of Health recommends that Ukrainians stay at home for now. Still, there is reason to believe that the restrictions will become less stringent over time, and eventually be lifted altogether.

At least in one recent interview, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy recommended planning a vacation for the second half of summer. Probably the most realistic scenario is to stay within the country.

Anna Romanova, executive director of the Hospitality Industry Association of Ukraine, said in a commentary that people are already looking for places to spend their vacations in Ukraine.

“If the quarantine is lifted for domestic tourism after May 11, and the borders are opened only in August-September, this will be an unprecedented chance for the development of rural, “green tourism,” she says.

That is why Romanova recommends that farmers prepare a unique product for domestic tourists.

“It is necessary to study demand, think over offers, advertise for potential tourists, in particular, through social networks, establish service and provide adequate prices that will not scare them away. All in all, it takes two weeks maximum!” – she is sure.

The law is written for tourists

In addition, the current pause can be successfully used by farmers to put their houses and farms in order, believes the chairman of the Union of Rural Green Tourism of Ukraine, Volodymyr Vasilyev.

“For the duration of the quarantine, our association recommends owners to refrain from receiving tourists. In parallel, the central office of the union is working with the parliamentary corps on legislative regulation and stimulation of the development of rural hospitality in Ukraine,” he says.

There are two options for this. The first is to submit a separate draft law. “Now we are having discussions about its name on rural hospitality or rural tourism. We expect that the draft will be short, concise, understandable, and have direct action,” says Vasiliev.

Everyone, however, is inclined to believe that it is necessary to have a separate law. “The current law on tourism is obsolete, and the new version is unknown whether there will be in the near future. Therefore, we expect to submit a bill without delay, which will deal specifically with rural tourism. In it – to prescribe the terminology – what is rural hospitality, rural, agrarian tourism, its varieties: wine tourism, gastrotourism, etc.”, – he shares.

“Boykivstki Svitanki”, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

In addition, work is progressing on the creation of a training network for villagers. This will help equip them with knowledge about successful practices, experience, and find new opportunities.

Well, and finally – this is the time to legalize the rural tourism sector.

“Even if a villager is not an individual entrepreneur (and we will implement this in some cases), both the local community and the consumer of services should know about him. To know that he is legal, that he exists on the market, that the conditions of his offer meet certain quality and safety criteria. This will be extremely relevant in the post-quarantine period”, – shares the chairman of the Union of Rural Green Tourism.

Opishnya, Poltava region

According to the standard

Also today the development of the state standard on rural tourism is underway. Representatives of Gospotrebstandart with the participation of the association are engaged in it.

The expert says: in addition to the categorization system, the standard will help to form a basic list of requirements of existing regulations of construction, sanitary, medical, fire safety, etc.

This is also an opportunity to bring the requirements to standards, and therefore – to bring rural tourism to a new level.

Bulbona, Chernivtsi region

“2020 is proclaimed the Year of Tourism Development in Regions and Rural Areas. We have high expectations in this regard,” Vasilyev says. And he adds that in mid-April, the All-Ukrainian Youth Contest of Innovative Projects for Tourism Development in Rural Areas in Pandemic Crisis Conditions was just launched.

Its goal is to attract young people to the development and implementation of local economic development projects, to support entrepreneurial and innovative project activities. And of course to popularize rural tourism as an effective form of socio-economic development of rural areas.

When, if not now?

The international market will not open soon, so farmers will face the need to meet the demand for recreation of residents of large metropolitan areas – m. Dnieper, Kharkiv, Kiev and others. To provide them with opportunities for recreation within 100-200 km from the regional center, especially on weekends or vacations.

First of all, this will concern the central-eastern part of Ukraine. There are not yet sufficient offers for rural recreation there, but there is potential – personal peasant and farms are functioning, there is good nature, culture, traditions, says Vasiliev.

Stary Khutor, Poltava region

For her part, Anna Romanova points out that 90% of Ukrainian farmers have not yet tried to organize green tourism. When, if not now to take advantage of this opportunity?

“Even if the borders open, international communication becomes available, it is unlikely that many of our fellow citizens will risk their health and travel to other countries, knowing the scale of the pandemic”, – adds the chairman of the Union of Rural Green Tourism.

Ukraine has something to show and something to see. The main thing is to ensure safety, guarantees and quality. Now is the perfect time for farmers to do just that!