About Ukraine Tourism.
Facts and Numbers.

Ukraine tourism is one of the fastest growing branches of the state economy. In Soviet Union times tourism was not even a branch of the State economy. It was just a neglected part of "the sphere of services". For a considerable length of time, foreign tourists were allowed to come to officially designated "open" cities only. Practically no soviet citizens were allowed to travel abroad.

Today Ukraine tourism industry confidently has entered the world tourist market. Tourism in Ukraine has been recognized as an important economic factor. There is a good reason for this change. The profit from one foreign tourist in Ukraine for one day equals the income from exporting nine tons of coal. The tourist sector is a major source of currency for 38% of the countries in the world. It’s all a matter of priorities.

In the present day we can see that things are beginning to change in the Ukraine's tourist industry. The Cabinet of Ministers and the President adopted several important decrees on tourism. "The Program of Development of Tourism up to the year 2010" has already been launched. On October, 1997 Ukraine became a Full Member of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

World Tourism Organization has placed Ukraine in the top 25 most visited countries in the world. Does Ukraine tourism really have what it takes to attract tourists? Yes, it truly has great potential.

What makes Tourism in Ukraine attractive?

There are many features which are advantageous for the development of Ukraine tourism:

• Over 500 cities of Ukraine were founded more than 900 years ago, 4500 villages of Ukraine are more than 300 years old.

• More than 150 thousand monuments of culture , history, archeology reflect the remarkable history of the Ukrainian people. 80 % of the monuments of Kyivan Rus epoch (IX - XII centuries) are concentrated in the territory of Ukraine.

• The excavations of ancient towns Tira, Olviya, Chersonese, Panticapea dating from the 5th century B.C. as well as the magnificent fortresses built in the 14th-15th centuries by Italians from Genoa, are located in Crimea.

• More than 600 museums introduce the most outstanding facts and personalities of Ukrainian history and culture.

• Ukraine has excellent geography, climatic conditions and scenic nature. Ukraine tourism operators consider the Black Sea and the Crimea as an ideal place for mountaineering , mountain bicycling, rock climbing and diving. The Carpathian mountains are a traditional place for skiing, mountaineering and kayaking.

• Many regions of Ukraine have saved their ethnic originality. Tourists have a great opportunity to get acquainted with national culture, songs, dances and meals.

So many places to choose, so little time…

• will find the unique combination of virgin nature and animal life. There are 33 National Parks, Biosphere and Nature Reserves in Ukraine. The most famous are "Askaniya-Nova", "Shatskyi", "Krymskyi"," Karpatskyi", "Chornomorskyi".

• can feel spirit of the glorious battles and fearless warriors of the defensive fortresses of Kamyanets-Podilsky, Lutsk, Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky, Medzhybizh, Uzhgorod, Mukacheve.

• will touch harmony of nature and design of one of the most beautiful place, created by human hands,Dendrological park "Sofievka" was given as “a very special gift” by the Polish count Potocky to his beautiful Greek wife Sofya. The park was named after her.

All these places are really interesting and have a lot to offer to keep you excited and busy during long periods of time. Otherwise they wouldn’t be that popular. I have visited many of them a few times. Sure I will go there again!

You'll find information about popular destinations and "special" places of interest added as I build this website.

Ukraine tourism attracts more than 15 million travelers every year (17.6 million in 2005). What are they looking for? Each of them has his/her plans and places of interest. But all of them will find some unspoiled spots in Ukrainian nature and culture which are still waiting to be discovered.

I am sure, your memories will always bring you back to Ukraine.

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