The Recreational and Tourist Potential and Wartime Threats in the Tourism Discourse on Sustainable Regional Development
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The article examines the strategic transformation of the functions of natural and recreational territories and sites (NRTS) in Ukraine, which, under conditions of military threats, extend beyond traditional use and acquire critical significance as locations for ecological and rehabilitation measures and urgent environmental monitoring. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of studying the adaptation of the legal framework for the nature reserve fund (NRF) to meet the needs of psychological and physical rehabilitation for military personnel and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Using the example of the Volyn region (a reserve region), the study substantiates its high recreational and tourist potential (unique nature, healing microclimate, Shatsk Lakes, mineral waters, and therapeutic muds), which has undergone minimal military impact. Despite the systemic challenges of the war (security restrictions, investment deficit), the region demonstrates resilience and growth in domestic demand: attendance at the Shatsk National Nature Park increased from 10-15 thousand in 2022 to 80-90 thousand people in 2023. The geographical "expansion" of tourists from the East and South (due to internally displaced persons) and the stable security situation (despite proximity to the border with Belarus) confirm the relevance of prioritizing Volyn's development as a center for national recovery. The importance and prospectiveness of the region's recreational resources in shaping its recreational and tourist specialization are examined. The significance of environmental protection activities in recreational areas is highlighted. The structure of potential utilization under new challenging conditions is investigated. The shift in focus toward family ecotourism and social rehabilitation is underscored, and the necessity of diversifying the tourist product (involving small lakes, cultural and ethnographic heritage) to ensure sustainable development is noted. The crucial role of local budgets and public organizations in funding social recreation for military families and veterans is determined.
Source: Market Infrastructure
Authors: Diana Hryniuk, Oksana Borysova, Inna Stepanets
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7155195290