A barn and bathroom conveniences

Deputy Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Viacheslav Kyrylenko believes that in a few years Ukraine will be a leader in the development of rural tourism. On July 4 the cabinet adopted an action plan to support rural tourism in 2006-2010. “These measures envisage consultations for rural tourism operators, international financial assistance, development of the infrastructure and regional rural tourism development programs, including construction, renovations, and updating of rural tourist facilities,” Interfax Ukraine quotes Kyrylenko as saying. This action plan is also aimed at forming manpower cadres for the development of rural tourism.

The Day has often written about the prospects of this kind of tourism in Ukraine. We certainly have a great potential; rural tourism can also help the periphery to overcome the ongoing crisis. “Where Ternopil, Zakarpattia, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts are concerned, tourism is the key to their progress,” The Day was told by Ivan Tsaruk, director of the tourist information center National Tourism Organization. He says that these oblasts “can open small hotels and pensions, and make souvenirs. Rural tourism is showing considerable progress in western Ukraine, where rural tourism support associations are being created. Recently two organizations of small towns were formed, embracing Zakarpattia, Khmelnytsky, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, and Ternopil oblasts.”

Western Ukraine is historically more attractive to tourists, owing to its local color and low urbanization. Other regions should also join the effort; each oblast has its specifics that, if cleverly applied, can be used to develop a local tourist concept. Annual rural tourism exhibits show that the Ukrainian countryside has enough attractions for foreign and domestic tourists. Vacationers willing to spend their time in a village in Mykolayiv oblast will be taken to the ostrich farm. In practically every village, in any region, tourists will be taught to decorate pysankas (Ukrainian Easter eggs), weave woolen blankets, or even how to be blacksmiths for a day — on top of taking in such traditional recreations, as swimming in a river, lying in the sun, and picking mushrooms and berries. You want to sleep in a barn or learn how to milk a cow? That’s not a problem. In a word, there are scads of exotic things to do.

There are several “buts.” First of all, the roads are awful. Second, private pensions don’t always have indoor bathroom conveniences. Few urbanites will relish the prospect of visiting the outhouse. On the other hand, where can local tourist operators find money for modern hotel amenities? State support for rural residents would definitely come in handy and help business consulting, infrastructure, and other clauses proposed by the cabinet. Let’s hope that the government finds enough money to pave a road for tourists to the Ukrainian countryside, both in the figurative and literal senses.