Tourism as the main driver of AH economic development
We are witnessing a growing interest of tourists in travelling to Ukraine, exploring its historical and cultural heritage and nature. In this regard, the hromadas of the Ukrainian Danube region are particularly special, as they have all the opportunities: unique history, multicultural and recreational potential.
Despite the crisis brought on by the COVID19 pandemic, more and more Ukrainian communities are creating their own tourism product, raising the status of their residents’ lives, turning small towns and villages into unique centres of development and tourist attractions. And in this context, the Reniiska Hromada has a huge potential.
Let’s be honest, first of all with ourselves. For 30 years, we have been unsuccessfully trying to revive the work of the Reniia Commercial Sea Port and other state-owned and privately owned enterprises, which were budget-forming in Soviet times. Trying to live in memories, we are waiting for the return of the heyday of the Reni district, we have become more angry, have a negative attitude towards everything new and constantly feel sorry for ourselves. At the same time, we do nothing, and if someone comes up with something and starts some new activities in the community, we are happy to criticise and look for a ‘thorn in someone else’s side’. I’m not saying that we don’t take advice from neighbouring countries, especially when it comes to the trends of the pro-European experience.
We believe that now is the time to understand that the well-being of us, our children and the future of the community depends on us. After all, we have enough resources to create new unique, competitive tourism products and start monetising them for the development of the community and improving the quality of life of residents.
Indeed, to start this work and increase success at the start, we need the desire of the people who will do it, knowledge, smart strategic documents, specific priority actions, roadmaps and business plans. A set of these tools is guaranteed to help attract financial resources and the necessary logistical and infrastructure components.
And the groundwork has already been laid within the framework of the Project ‘Development and Promotion of Green Tourism in the Danube Sector of the Black Sea Basin (Cahul District, Republic of Moldova; Reni Territorial Community, Ukraine; Galati County, Romania)’, which was launched with the participation of the Reni Community within the framework of the Black Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.
The project is aimed at uniting the efforts of the authorities, business and the public of the border communities to promote business development and entrepreneurship in the field of culture and tourism.
For the Reni community, this is an opportunity to learn how to create a competitive tourism product from the potential available in the community, start selling it, and reasonably preserve and enhance cultural, natural and historical heritage.
This can become one of the main drivers of economic development and increase the investment attractiveness of the new AH.
Within the framework of the Project, a working seminar was held in Cahul, Republic of Moldova, where representatives of the Reni community had the opportunity to learn about the experience of using the tourism potential in the Cahul Rayon.
On the example of the Kolibash community, the Ukrainian delegation saw how the joint efforts of the authorities and the public managed to attract appropriate financial resources for the development of rural infrastructure: water supply, road repairs, creation of conditions for farmers, development of tourist facilities, repair of social and cultural facilities, etc. As a result, the village has a positive population growth rate and a higher quality of life.
The experience of developing a business in the field of cross-border rural tourism, such as the horse farm in the village of Slobozia Mare and the Museum of History and Ethnography in the village of Valeni, was useful.
It is worth mentioning that the Prutul de Jos Nature Reserve, recently included in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network, is one of the main attractions in this area and was a great delight for the seminar participants.
One of the most successful agro-resorts in southern Moldova, the Valeni Eco-Village complex, with its unique rural traditions and tourist experience, left unforgettable impressions and emotions.
The project activities are focused on the creation and consolidation of a cross-border tourism cluster in Cahul, Reni and Galati, which will stimulate the development of green tourism at the border, increase the quality of tourism services, the number of tourists in the region and improve the quality of life in the communities.
Within the framework of the Project, the following will be produced: a guidebook on cross-border tourism; a map with three cross-border tourist routes; an information brochure for tourists; and a general programme for the development of cross-border tourism in Cahul, Reni and Galati. Trainings, roundtables and seminars will be held to strengthen the capacity of tourism service providers, local and regional authorities in the field of cross-border green tourism. There will also be study visits and podcasts on green tourism development in the region, as well as a good neighbourhood study along the Danube sector of the Black Sea basin.
Unfortunately, we tend to enjoy what we see in the West, in other parts of the world, but less what we have in our own communities. I propose that we realise and start being proud of the fact that we have the most amazing places, rich cultural traditions, the best people who are famous for their talents, hospitality and sincerity of hearts. This is what attracts tourists from different countries and other regions of Ukraine.
We hope that everyone who wants to work and start developing the tourism sector in the Reniia community will benefit from this project. We truly believe that through the development of the tourism industry in the Reniiska community, everything can change, and that people can live better through joint efforts.