Transcarpathian authorities plan to revive rural tourism

To intensify development of rural tourism and establish cooperation between the owners of rural estates in the region and the Department of Tourism and Resorts, a meeting with the above subjects of tourism industry took place at the Regional State Administration.

The meeting was attended by representatives of unions engaged in the development of rural tourism in districts and individual owners of rural estates that provide tourist services.

The head of Tourism and Resorts Department Denys Man said that, according to a 2014 monitoring, the region has about 400 estates included in the annual catalog "Rural tourism of Transcarpathia. Rural estates sincerely invite". In most districts, district unions to promote rural tourism have been established. Active work for the development of rural tourism is being carried out in Beregovo, Mukachevo, Svalyava, Rakhiv, Tyachiv districts.

However, there have been negative changes in the development of rural tourism in the region. In Beregovo district, where rural tourism is a priority area, in 2014, the number of estates offering tourist services dramatically decreased. In the villages of Borzhava, Vary, Bene, Muzhievo and Yanoshi, there are now only 30 estates, while in 2013 there were 121.

During the meeting, they discussed problematic issues of tourism development in rural areas. In particular, those are difficult access to villages due to lack of proper roads and problems with garbage disposal. These factors contribute to a negative impression of Transcarpathia among tourists. 
    
 So, at the meeting, they decided to create a tourist route that would be convenient for tourists and include visits to rural areas of Transcarpathia.

Following the meeting, they decided to include into the draft program of tourism and resorts development in Transcarpathian region for 2016-2020 a paragraph "Support of rural and agro-tourism in the region as a prerequisite for a comprehensive socio-economic development of rural areas" and to define rural tourism a priority of the tourism industry development in Transcarpathia.