Diagnosis – blind narcissism. Shall we open the eyes?

Every spring, thousands of tourists visit the Valley of Daffodils near Khust to see this unique natural wonder. Every spring, hundreds of journalists write how incredibly beautiful the valley is and encourage to come see this beauty. Similarly, every spring officials report that the field of narrow-leafed daffodils remains one of the most interesting tourist highlights of the region and boast figures on the number of tourists and revenues for the economy. But no one is honest enough to say that it all is a 
disease – blind narcissism. And the stage is critical.

Has anyone ever asked the opinions of tourists who come to see daffodils? What are their thoughts? Not about the flowers themselves – they are fantastic – but on all those important little things that are called service. And one more thing, how many tourists return to the Valley of Daffodils for the second and the third time?

First one needs to get there. The roads are in very bad condition despite having the status of national importance.

Next – wooden toilets for tourists in Kireshi – it’s not even an anachronism, they are as if from the ice age, which Khust daffodils successfully survived. "Unsanitary conditions" in this case is an understatement. "Abomination" is more appropriate word. 

Unregulated market at the entrance to the Daffodil field. Crude, overpriced, not interesting, unaesthetic. The only concern is making money. 

The management of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve was able to arrange parking lot to have constant in-flow of cash, to regularly sell tickets to the Valley for 15 UAH (for visitors with cars – even 30 UAH), to collect a considerable rents from the local businesses. 

They even employed a person to scare tourists, eager to take pictures among daffodils, with a speaker – "Come back, you can not go there!".

But for some reason that management are unable to remove piles of garbage and install normal toilets.    

By the way, at the entrance to the reserve local kids without a hint of fear sell whole bouquets of daffodils. And tourists are constantly reminded: one torn or cut flower is punished by 49 UAH fine. The guests are urged to "help daffodils survive tourist season" and preserve the unique Valley. But, in all honesty, it should probably rather be protected from those who run the place.

The worst of all is that the number of daffodils is decreasing with each year. It has long been said – it would be better if they allowed to farm in the Valley – to graze cattle, to mow the grass … Then the field would not get wet and would not suffer from willow … But, once again, all talk and no action.

And it is not about the lack of money – it’s about the lack of will. And then, not only nature will revenge, but also the people fooled with tales of unique, charming, picturesque Valley of Daffodils. 

P.S. The post with approximately the same content was published by uzhgorod.in last year, not to mention other media. Has anything changed?Only for worse.