Swedish and Finnish Ambassadors Test Tourist Ground in Bukovyna
Three pilot districts, Vyzhnytsia, Storozhynets, and Putyla, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, could receive foreign and domestic tourists this year. The experts believe that ecotourism will eventually yield income far above that of the local timber industry and exports. The ranking Scandinavian guests’ visit coincided with the 572nd anniversary of Banylov-Pidhirny, a local village, so they could admire the scenery, authentic Hutsul folk art, songs, dances, and Bukovynan cuisine. “I have a feeling I am in the lap of virgin nature never violated by human endeavor,” Finnish Ambassador Martti Isoaro said on the crest of the mountain. Bukovynan ecotourism became possible a year ago when a Carpathian regional development project began to be implemented in Chernivtsi oblast, supported by the TACIS program. “We all know that the forest has always fed, clothed, and given homes and jobs to the people here,” says V. Paliychuk, Chairman of the Village Council. “If all goes well, it will continue to help us, although in a somewhat different manner. I think that our environs are not worse than, say, in the Czech Republic which is about to join the Top Ten Tourist Countries.”
Oleksandr Chervoniak, local physical education instructor, is among those already prepared to receive and accommodate guests. He made capital repairs on home with his own money. “They promised to reimburse all our expenses. They even said we could receive a single loan of between one and three thousand dollars to make repairs and improvements on our plots. They never did, so we did everything ourselves, by way of family business. On the other hand, we are worried about the taxes. How much will they levy on such tourist business? If it’s too much, the whole thing will be nipped in the bud.”
“I see that this oblast has vast opportunities to develop tourism which is a specific sector of the economy,” says Ambassador G Ъ ran Jacobsson. “Local businessmen should see their main objective in building a tourist infrastructure, organizing personnel training, and working out itineraries. All this means additional jobs, investment, and hard currency. This will become an important stage in the cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine. Another important aspect is an opportunity to learn about different cultures. This vast territory with breath-taking landscapes offers enough room for every tourist.”
“The Finns lack information. They have no idea that there are such beautiful places in the heart of Europe,” says Finnish Ambassador Martti Isoaro. “This could become an important income source for talented people, and here they have a lot of interesting ideas. By the way, I will be happy to come and vacation here myself one of these days. I might as well point out that developing tourism in this region will help integrate Bukovyna and the rest of Ukraine into Europe.”
The first sprouts of rural tourism in Bukovyna broke surface after the Swedish and Finnish Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine, Messrs. G Ъ ran Jacobsson and Martti Isoaro, visited Chernivtsi oblast on May 14.
