The EU and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have teamed up to offer emergency support and recommendations for Ukraine’s tourism industry, which has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The analysis, supported by the EU4Business initiative, looked at implications for the sector, which employs around 1 million people and contributes to around 9% of GDP in Ukraine.
The report titled ‘COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Ukrainian tourism sector’ was presented online to industry professionals, regulators, relevant authorities and stakeholders. It updates the original tourism roadmap unveiled in Ukraine in November 2019, and is designed to unleash the country’s potential in the sector.
The report provides an overview of COVID-19 mitigation measures to be considered by the Ukrainian authorities, and proposed by professional associations. It also recommends further steps needed to put tourism on the path to recovery. These include an anti-crisis plan for 2020, a reorganised roadmap, an awareness campaign, suggestions on capital investment requirements and new tourist product development.