Mariana Oleskiv, also a member of the World Tourism Network for the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, posted to her LinkedIn.
Dear Friends, Today, I am stepping down as the Chairperson of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine. My five-year contract is coming to an end, and my role in the international tourism arena is deepening. Over these five years, I have truly lived for my work, and my only regret is that there was too little time each day for my children.
Many of my good friends working in the tourism industry know how difficult it has been to support tourism in Ukraine under the conditions of war, economic challenges, and regions being occupied or destroyed due to Russian aggression. While you’re working on it, it doesn’t seem as terrifying. But now, looking back, I realize the incredible path we’ve had, swaying on the wild swings of COVID-19 and war. I have put great effort into ensuring that Ukraine recognizes tourism as a potentially key pillar of the economy.
I also want to emphasize, especially for those anxious about threats to tourism stability in their countries, for various reasons: empirical experience shows that tourism does not die during a war or other critical challenges. It transforms, adapts, and finds new ways. Ultimately, it creates entirely new directions, as it has in Ukraine. People will never give up the need to behold beauty, learn history and culture, and, ultimately, travel – even amidst air raid alerts!
I am deeply grateful to the global tourism community for what we’ve managed to achieve:
• Showing Russia that barbarism and savagery are alien to the civilized world. In particular, it should exclude this country from the UNWTO.
• For the first time in history, leading the UNWTO Commission for Europe.
• Developing countless routes, locations, and dishes and launching numerous campaigns to help our unique regions shine even brighter.
• Inventing the “Routes of Memory” – an entirely new tourism direction that will help Ukrainians of different generations remember the price our State paid for its Independence while offering foreigners a new facet of Ukrainian history.
• Establishing the Ukraine Tourism Summit and drafting the Tourism Law. I have put much effort into building a system of rules and values at the state level.
Despite the war, the industry continues bringing hundreds of millions of hryvnias to the state treasury.
I am convinced that this trend will continue. Ukraine will again welcome millions of travelers from Europe, the East, and the Americas, who will discover our ancient culture, history, natural beauty, and fantastic cuisine.
✨ As it should be, during the first 5 years of the agency’s existence, we explored, studied, connected, and established our place in domestic and international tourism environments. We experimented and took risks, but we left no one indifferent. Now, I leave behind a significant legacy that I sincerely hope the new leader will carry and multiply.
