Tourism in Ukraine during the war: prohibitions and recommendations

Despite the ongoing war and the constant threat of missile attacks from the Russian Federation, Ukrainians continue to look for opportunities for recreation within the country. Due to difficulties with tours abroad, many Ukrainians choose to travel around Ukraine, refraining from trips to frontline regions and territories that were under occupation.

Access to the sea remains closed due to the temporary occupation and massive shelling of the southern regions. Instead, tours to Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Transcarpathia and Bukovyna, which are considered relatively safe, have become the most popular. These regions attract tourists with their natural beauty and the opportunity to relax in peaceful conditions.

According to the head of the All-Ukrainian Association of Tourist Operators, Ihor Holubakha, Ukrainians prefer short tours of 2-4 days, often with visits to lakes, as an alternative to the closed sea. Summer tours to "ski" resorts such as Bukovel, Yaremche, Slavske and Dragobrat have become especially popular. For those looking for seclusion, small villages such as Vorokhta, Tatariv and Kvasy, where you can rent a house or have a glamping holiday, are ideal choices.

Shatsky lakes in Volyn and lakes in Rivne region are also popular. Thermal waters in Solotovyno, Berehovo, Kosyno and vats in the village of Lumshory became an alternative to sea recreation.

Oleksandr Chornii, the owner of the hotel school "Smart Education", notes that one of the restraining factors for domestic tourism is the mobilization of men. This applies to both tourists and staff. In recent months, there has been a lot of discussion about the fact that Ukrainians may stop leaving their cities due to the active work of military commissars. However, hoteliers are sure that a certain amount of guests will remain, in particular, women and children.

According to official data, more than 700,000 people received armor from mobilization, most of them men. This creates a potential audience for the hotel business of about one and a half million people. Even if only 20-30% of this audience will use hotel services, this is already a significant flow of tourists.

In addition to the "booked", the hotel business expects the arrival of students, people with disabilities, as well as military personnel who have the opportunity to see their families during vacation.

Taking into account the realities of wartime, the State Tourism Development Agency (DART) has updated the safety rules for traveling around the country before the start of the summer season. Throughout the country rafting, hiking, walking and excursions near critical infrastructure, military and strategic facilities are prohibited. Tourist locations near the borders with Belarus and the Russian Federation are also inaccessible.

DART recommends refraining from traveling to territories that were under occupation. Rest in the east and south of Ukraine, especially in the front-line areas, remains dangerous due to active hostilities.

Due to the martial law, certain restrictions apply in all regions of Ukraine. For example, in Poltava region it is forbidden to visit forests, while in Zhytomyr region visiting forests is allowed, except for those close to the border with Belarus. There is a ban on visiting forests in Vinnytsia region.

In Volyn Oblast, it is strictly forbidden to visit forests due to the proximity to the border with Belarus, while in Rivne Oblast it is allowed. Walking in the forest is allowed on the territory of Lviv region, but entering the forest by vehicle is prohibited.

Walking in the forest is allowed in Transcarpathia, with the exception of the border parts of the Uzhan National Park and the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, it is allowed to visit mountains and forests, but in Bukovel it is forbidden to ride jeeps, quad bikes, buggies and motorcycles in the forest.

In the Ternopil, Chernivtsi, and Khmelnytskyi regions, tourist facilities are operating without changes, it is allowed to visit forests, but the lighting of bonfires remains prohibited.