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Raptom changed everything. With the start of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, tourism in the country survived the collapse. And five representatives from the tourist gallery shared their experiences, fears and hopes with DW.
Natalya Vlasenko liked to show tourists the city of Odessa and its surroundings. However, war broke out and everything changed. Instead of showing tourists monuments of architecture, Natal helps refugees and translates for foreign journalists, like coming to Odessa. The war again changed the life not only of Natalia, but also of her wealthy colleagues from the Ukrainian tourist gallery. She told us her story, as well as the stories of other representatives of Ukrainian tourism.
No time for trip reports
Natalya Vlasenko, a guide from Odessa:
“I had so many plans for 2022, after the fact that the electricity supply by the coronavirus started to be done step by step. Previously, I worked with groups of wealthy young people from Great Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands. I can have a lot of good thoughts on the hours! I could do what was good for me — show tourists my place and introduce them to Odessa’s history, culture and cuisine.
Before the war, Natalya Vlasenko drove tourists to Odessa
But if on the 24th a fierce war broke out, my plans crumbled, like a cart. I can no longer organize tours, and my reserve airfield will be the same — as a journalist, as a writer on the road, I wrote for an Internet site about Odessa. However, at the same time, tourist reports are simply not there.
I was lucky to find a new job, abi to earn a living. At the moment I work as a translator and assistant for foreign ZMIs, so that I can come to Odessa, or tell me about the current situation. My knowledge brought me to who you need — Okrim Ukrainian I know English, French and Polish. Besides that, I work as a volunteer for the new English portal “We are Ukraine”.
My colleague’s deyaks and colezhanka were deprived of their wealth in Ukraine; I consulted some of them and translated their stories. For the help of our knowledge, we would like to make a statement about this, because the war in our country has changed everything & # 8212; including in the tourist gallery”.
Now Natalya Vlasenko leads the places of Ukrainian journalists, like here — near Mykolaiv
The role of the tourist gallery is important during the war
Ivan Liptuga, President of the National Tourist Board of Ukraine:
“Shortly before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while international ZMIs were already speculating about a possible war, most people here still did not believe in war. A good hour before us a lot of meals from foreign ZMIs arrived, so we decided to organize a survey on Zoom with the World Tourist Network (WTN). Among the attendees were tour operators and hotel managers, the stench calmed our international partners.
12 days later, everything changed – the war began. We launched the “Scream for Ukraine!” campaign. Tour operators, hotel and restaurant clerks supported the spiky army. The stinkers welcome refugees and help them organize themselves.
Mustache tse demonstrating, important naskіlki є tourist haluz & # 8212; not less for peaceful times with the method of popularizing Ukraine as a tourist destination, but also for military hours & # 8212; abi help».
Tourists turn to Ukraine
Yuliya Kulik, director of tour operator JC Travel:
“It was clear that the war destroyed all tourist activity. For example, 2021 was already booked for 2022, we were insured for good luck, and for fun, the numbers after the collapse of the coronavirus pandemic began to rise again. And yet, on the spikes of fate, if the tension between Ukraine and Russia grew, the Daedals would be more armored. And then the war began, the tourist galuz collapsed. I went with my daughter to the Netherlands. For me, that my man її life, healthy & # 8217; I am that future & # 8212; in absolute priority. And so, I also knew the work here, as well as the tourism.
With Donkoy Yuliya Kulik flew to the Netherlands
If the war is over and the war invades the country, tourism in Ukraine will certainly reach its peak. Tourists will turn back if they become safe. Z & # 8217; be new destinations for tourists in the region, even if you are interested in such places as Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Mariupol, just move around. There is only one problem: it takes an hour for everything. I’m in a good mood, I’m even more optimistic.
“I hope the war will end soon”
Anna Nikolayeva, guide:
“Lviv is the most popular place in Ukraine for tourists. In 2021, the city saw the second million inhabitants pass. The guides are preparing for the new spring-summer 2022 season. Several seasons I worked on a web page and new routes around Lviv. Ale viyna ruined all my plans. I deprived Ukraine and now I live near Warsaw.
Anna Nikolaeva now conducts virtual tours in Zoom
When the pandemic started, I advertised on Airbnb a “Culture is more expensive than Ukraine” online tour. Right now I’m going to propagate this virtual tour via Zoom. And for the first time, I talked about Ukraine with Google, Intel, LinkedIn, Pfizer, Airbnb, Pinterest, KPMG Canada, Amazon Studios, Salesforce and other companies around the world. People are convinced that they know little or nothing about our country, and I can help them find out more. I hope the war will end soon and I can return to Lviv”.
The war paralyzes the economy
Maria Yukhnovets, tourism expert who spіvrobіtnitsa Sputnik Kyiv DMC:
“International tourism always reacts sensitively to all possible worlds — like a pandemic, like a political crisis in the country. In September 2022, if the ZMI Dedalis was talking more about the possibility of a Russian invasion, a lot of orders were placed to warn of trips to Ukraine. Although we understood and respected the decision, we understood that we have a strong injection for the 2022 tourist season.
The economy of the country, perhaps all the relics of industry are paralyzed. No more tourism – none in the middle, none beyond the borders of the edge – close the sky to civil aviation, Ukraine is at war.
On the war, Maria Yukhnovets working as a volunteer
We realized that tourism will be one of the last bogeymen, which are guarded by the war. It will be necessary to build the infrastructure and renovate the public service. And tourists will again be guilty of trusting our country — We hope this will be possible in 2023.
At the same time, we try to help the nation, like volunteers. We help with groceries, help those who have spent a house, support refugees and also help soldiers to help with evacuation. The price of the new daily can be that of all Ukrainians, so my life looks like this at once.
We hope that Ukraine will follow this fate on Sunday, and now the phoenix is dead. And so, we are convinced that after the war, millions of people will never be asked: “Ukraine? Or?”.
Dzherelo: Ukrainian service DW
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