The document – named Tourism for Ukraine Tourism: Key Actions the Tourism Industry Can Take to Support Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries – was put together by a task force of international organisations and experts from the region.
It aims to provide the global travel industry and travellers with a "deeper understanding" of the issues and impact of the war on local providers – often small, family-run and independent enterprises - while offering advice on practical actions anyone in the tourism industry can take to help address these challenges.
The paper is targeted at five groups: tourism businesses; industry associations; travel media and content creators; universities and educational organisations and travellers.
It has a focus on expected long-term consequences on the tourism sector and a list of actions relevant for everyone involved in the sector, followed by specific recommendations for each industry segment.
Suggested actions include hiring Ukrainian talent, continuing to promote and sell holidays to neighbouring countries, offering training, mentorship or access to events for tourism businesses and colleagues from the region and using social media channels to show solidarity for Ukraine.
While Ukraine remains the focus of the white paper, it also addresses the devastation on tourism in the surrounding countries such as Poland, Moldova and Slovakia, which are already losing income because of a reduction in visitor numbers and housing refugees.
Mariana Oleskiv, chair of the State Agency for Tourism Development in Ukraine, called for the industry to stand with Ukraine.
"A new dawn will come, and when it does we need to be prepared," she added. "For that, we need your kind words, your professional advice, and your experience in the development of tourism.
"Ukraine will be reborn and become a new big market, with new opportunities for investment, travel, unique experiences and emotions."
