Letter to the Minister of Tourism
Dear Minister of Tourism of Ukraine
I saw in the papers that Ukaraine has spent some millions on a spot to be put on CNN, something like the Incredible Indian or Malaysia, truly Asia.
It is of course nice for the self-esteeem to put such advertisments, but let me suggest that it might be a bit premature. Don't misunderstand me. I have spent a month in Ukraine, and I have enjoyed it. I will recommend to people I know to go to Ukraine. It has some quite remarkable places to visit. The big part of the country that is an agriculture landscape has its own beauty, but is perhaps a hard sell on its own. But still there are plenty of places to see, and also the history and culture has tourism potential.
The limits for tourism is more on the level of organisation and information. Things are just not well enough organised for people who don't speak the language, in particular not as so few Ukrainians do speak any other foreign language than Russian. Also the information available is not at all sufficient. Take my trip to the Chufut-Kale. I believe it is a truly remarkable place. I read about it in two different guide books, I start the rather taxing climb to reach there just to find a locked gate!!!!
And note that even here there is no sign - not even in Ukrainian - that tells when this gate will be open. Is it closed for the whole winter, will it open at ten or???? And if it would have been such a sign it should of course be at the parking place already so that people don't have to climb one hour to meet a locked gate. I also wanted to progress to the Tepe Kermen caves, and there was not one singel sign to show the direction. OK I had bought a good map and had a compass so in the end I found them, but I didn't make the final climb up to them. I was simply afraid of that there would be another gate there as well! This was not at all the first experience of this kind that I have had.
Also I think you have to see Ukraine with the eyes of the foreigners. What is unique for Ukraine? The Carpathians are nice, but not particularly unique, the same kind of nice mountains can be found in most European countries. What I though was very spectacular in Galicia was the deep river valleys in particular the Dnister. Some rafting, fishing and other water related experiences could be developed there.
Culture I already mentioned as a good selling point for many parts of Ukraine. Which of course means that Kiev, Lviv and other cities are important. My favourite place was Kamyenats Podilsky. That spectacular cliff, all those cultures and religons in one single place!!!
As for the BIG tourism spot Crimea, you should realise that the beaches of Crimea are not unique. The whole Mediterranean is full of the same or better. And the beach front of Yalta is not very special or interesting as such - I mean it is nice but I don't know if it is so much different from Rimini, Monaco or Nice? What makes Crimea a good sell is the landscape, the flora, the mountains and the cultures that are mixed here. With those things in place the beach and the sea is of course an added value. But there is also a big problem with accessibility to the beaches and shores. It is not only the topography that is challenging, but companies, private persons and hotels seem to have the right to fence of the beaches. I find it ironic that a former Socialist country now seem to go so far in allowing people to restrict other peoples access to the beaches and to other nice places. In general it is very hard to "take a walk". You end up in fences, barking gods and signs of no access everywhere you go. I really hope that there could be some thoughts about this when the yet not so developed parts of the Crimean coast (East of Alushta) is developed.
I suggest that the millions could be better spent on improving information and perhaps some language classes for people in the tourist sector. They also need to understand that there is not much point in having English web sites or brochures if no single person can speak or read English......Or German, or French or Spanish or any other language of possible interest. Key communication centres, like railway and bus stations should have some signs in English and the staff could be trained in at least some basic ideas on how you communicate with people who don't understand the language, such as writing down figures on a piece of paper instead of shouting them again and again.....
It seems to me that most of the tourism is oriented to organised group trips and not independent travellers. I realise that crazy people like myself that prefer to bike on their own for five weeks in Ukraine is not and should not be the target group for investments in the Tourist sectors. But I believe that e.g. Germans coming by car could be an interesting target group (and note that they are not always keen on English, they surely would expect some information to be in German!). But again, information needs radical improvement. If I compare with your neighbour Poland, there most towns/bigger villages have very good information signs of where to find hotels, post office etc. And all cities seem to have a Tourist Information office with very helpful staff, they even call hotels and ask if they have rooms. Something like that is what you need as an independent traveller.
Areas for improvement
Here are a few areas where I think things need to be improved to make tourists happier.
Garbage: If you don't do something about the waste management tourists will be angry. It is quite scandalous here and there. I believe also the normal Ukrainian would appreciate it.
Plumbing: There is work to do in Ukraine for all plumbers in Europe for five years I believe!!!!!!. Tourists want water, running water, hot water, toilets that flush properly, faucets that are not leaking all the time, warm water from the warm water tap and cold from the cold water tap and not the opposite.
Disabled people: The main reason for Ukraine to improve conditions for disabled people must be to help its own disabled people and not the tourist. But it is quite obvious that there is almost no consideration of disabled people in the development of housing, tourism etc. I am aware of that it is difficult and it will take a lot of time. But today, even simple things like crossing a street is almost impossible for a person in a wheel chair as the pavements are so high. At this stage I would recommend that you ensure that your tourism information makes clear that Ukraine is not developed as a tourist destination for disabled tourists.
Vegetarians: There is plenty of vegetarian food in Ukraine, but for foreigners it is always difficult to get the right kind of food. Perhaps you could assist the tourism industry by introducing some kind of signs that can be used on the menus for vegetarian food. But consult with the vegetarians first, because they will tell you that vegetarian food shall not use meat broth or animal fat in the cooking...
This is just some friendly advise, I wish you all the best. Now I have to figure out how to get out of your beautiful country - there is no place where I easily can get information about neither how to get here nor get away.
Yours truly,
Gunnar Rundgren
I saw in the papers that Ukaraine has spent some millions on a spot to be put on CNN, something like the Incredible Indian or Malaysia, truly Asia.
It is of course nice for the self-esteeem to put such advertisments, but let me suggest that it might be a bit premature. Don't misunderstand me. I have spent a month in Ukraine, and I have enjoyed it. I will recommend to people I know to go to Ukraine. It has some quite remarkable places to visit. The big part of the country that is an agriculture landscape has its own beauty, but is perhaps a hard sell on its own. But still there are plenty of places to see, and also the history and culture has tourism potential.
The limits for tourism is more on the level of organisation and information. Things are just not well enough organised for people who don't speak the language, in particular not as so few Ukrainians do speak any other foreign language than Russian. Also the information available is not at all sufficient. Take my trip to the Chufut-Kale. I believe it is a truly remarkable place. I read about it in two different guide books, I start the rather taxing climb to reach there just to find a locked gate!!!!
And note that even here there is no sign - not even in Ukrainian - that tells when this gate will be open. Is it closed for the whole winter, will it open at ten or???? And if it would have been such a sign it should of course be at the parking place already so that people don't have to climb one hour to meet a locked gate. I also wanted to progress to the Tepe Kermen caves, and there was not one singel sign to show the direction. OK I had bought a good map and had a compass so in the end I found them, but I didn't make the final climb up to them. I was simply afraid of that there would be another gate there as well! This was not at all the first experience of this kind that I have had.
Also I think you have to see Ukraine with the eyes of the foreigners. What is unique for Ukraine? The Carpathians are nice, but not particularly unique, the same kind of nice mountains can be found in most European countries. What I though was very spectacular in Galicia was the deep river valleys in particular the Dnister. Some rafting, fishing and other water related experiences could be developed there.
Culture I already mentioned as a good selling point for many parts of Ukraine. Which of course means that Kiev, Lviv and other cities are important. My favourite place was Kamyenats Podilsky. That spectacular cliff, all those cultures and religons in one single place!!!
As for the BIG tourism spot Crimea, you should realise that the beaches of Crimea are not unique. The whole Mediterranean is full of the same or better. And the beach front of Yalta is not very special or interesting as such - I mean it is nice but I don't know if it is so much different from Rimini, Monaco or Nice? What makes Crimea a good sell is the landscape, the flora, the mountains and the cultures that are mixed here. With those things in place the beach and the sea is of course an added value. But there is also a big problem with accessibility to the beaches and shores. It is not only the topography that is challenging, but companies, private persons and hotels seem to have the right to fence of the beaches. I find it ironic that a former Socialist country now seem to go so far in allowing people to restrict other peoples access to the beaches and to other nice places. In general it is very hard to "take a walk". You end up in fences, barking gods and signs of no access everywhere you go. I really hope that there could be some thoughts about this when the yet not so developed parts of the Crimean coast (East of Alushta) is developed.
I suggest that the millions could be better spent on improving information and perhaps some language classes for people in the tourist sector. They also need to understand that there is not much point in having English web sites or brochures if no single person can speak or read English......Or German, or French or Spanish or any other language of possible interest. Key communication centres, like railway and bus stations should have some signs in English and the staff could be trained in at least some basic ideas on how you communicate with people who don't understand the language, such as writing down figures on a piece of paper instead of shouting them again and again.....
It seems to me that most of the tourism is oriented to organised group trips and not independent travellers. I realise that crazy people like myself that prefer to bike on their own for five weeks in Ukraine is not and should not be the target group for investments in the Tourist sectors. But I believe that e.g. Germans coming by car could be an interesting target group (and note that they are not always keen on English, they surely would expect some information to be in German!). But again, information needs radical improvement. If I compare with your neighbour Poland, there most towns/bigger villages have very good information signs of where to find hotels, post office etc. And all cities seem to have a Tourist Information office with very helpful staff, they even call hotels and ask if they have rooms. Something like that is what you need as an independent traveller.
Areas for improvement
Here are a few areas where I think things need to be improved to make tourists happier.
Garbage: If you don't do something about the waste management tourists will be angry. It is quite scandalous here and there. I believe also the normal Ukrainian would appreciate it.
Plumbing: There is work to do in Ukraine for all plumbers in Europe for five years I believe!!!!!!. Tourists want water, running water, hot water, toilets that flush properly, faucets that are not leaking all the time, warm water from the warm water tap and cold from the cold water tap and not the opposite.
Disabled people: The main reason for Ukraine to improve conditions for disabled people must be to help its own disabled people and not the tourist. But it is quite obvious that there is almost no consideration of disabled people in the development of housing, tourism etc. I am aware of that it is difficult and it will take a lot of time. But today, even simple things like crossing a street is almost impossible for a person in a wheel chair as the pavements are so high. At this stage I would recommend that you ensure that your tourism information makes clear that Ukraine is not developed as a tourist destination for disabled tourists.
Vegetarians: There is plenty of vegetarian food in Ukraine, but for foreigners it is always difficult to get the right kind of food. Perhaps you could assist the tourism industry by introducing some kind of signs that can be used on the menus for vegetarian food. But consult with the vegetarians first, because they will tell you that vegetarian food shall not use meat broth or animal fat in the cooking...
This is just some friendly advise, I wish you all the best. Now I have to figure out how to get out of your beautiful country - there is no place where I easily can get information about neither how to get here nor get away.
Yours truly,
Gunnar Rundgren
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