Village revival and tourism development
The most important aspect of developing a vibrant tourism industry is to identify potential areas of interests suitable for tourist attractions. In Zaporizhzhia oblast, such places of interest certainly exist and specific projects are being developed to promote them.
On May 21, 2009 within the framework of Canada-Ukraine “Regional Governance and Development” Project (RGD), a presentation on the establishment of the historical touristic site Ethnoselo Project in Vil”nyansk rayon of Zaporizhzhia oblast was held in Zaporizhzhia. This project is in line with one of the identified priorities of Zaporizhzhia Regional Development Strategy until 2015: moving Zaporizhzhia toward becoming a region of historical, cultural, recreational and touristic importance, both nationally and internationally. The Ethnoselo project was developed by “Dyvosvit” NGO during the Project Management and Strategy Implementation Training Programme held by the RGD project.
The major objective of the project is to develop a place of learning where the oblast’s ethnic diversity can be demonstrated. With this in mind, an inhabited village will be established in Chervonokazatske village of Vil”nyansk rayon. Each of the dwelling houses in the village will represent national and cultural traits of a certain ethnic group. The rural community will include present residents of the village; experts will hold classes on agriculture, mowing, sheaves bunching, pottery, embroidery, cookery, weaving and wicker-work for tourists. This unique project and tourist attraction site is expected to attract tourists from within the oblast, other oblasts of Ukraine as well from abroad. Hence, by applying effective methods of tourism development and regional promotion, the Ethnoselo project will create an attractive tourist site within the oblast. The project is highly regarded by oblast authorities. Oleksandr Sin, Deputy Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast State Administration, has described this project as a successful venture due to the project participants” desire for it to come to fruition as well as the high interest of local authorities and the public. It was because of the project”s success that it was decided that it should be shared not only among the local community but also among the heads of village councils during the workshop in Chervonokazatske village in the near future.
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