The State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine (SATD) has unveiled a new campaign entitled “We Are Here: Brave Hearts of Ukraine” during the ITB Congress in Berlin.
Since the war with Russia began just over two years ago world attention has been distracted away from the ongoing fighting. With this new campaign Mariana Oleskiv, Chair of the SATD wants to remind the global travel community that Ukraine still has a proud tourism industry and that they are on a journey to revitalise Ukraine’s tourism sector despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.
As part of this campaign, the SATD unveiled a poignant video symbolising its unwavering resilience and readiness to welcome visitors with open arms as soon as peace prevails. The video unveiled at this year’s ITB Congress serves as the cornerstone of SATD’s strategy to reignite interest in Ukrainian tourism in the future, emphasising its determination to share the nation’s beauty and hospitality with travellers from around the globe. From the vibrant streets of Kyiv to the enchanting landscapes of the Carpathian Mountains, from the bustling port city of Odesa to the charming architecture of Lviv, Ukraine offers a diverse array of experiences waiting to be explored.
The campaign video was inspired by the iconic video filmed by a defiant President Zelensky on the first night of Russia’s Invasion declaring “we are all here”. The video showcased at ITB builds on this message profiling Ukrainians that previously worked in the travel and tourism industry and now work towards the war effort. The message of the campaign is that Ukraine is still there, with all its cities, nature and culture waiting for the world to explore when the conflict is finally over.
Mariana Oleskiv, Chairperson of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine said: When people think of Ukraine, they think of a country that is decimated by war. With this campaign we want to show people that this is not the case. Ukraine is a beautiful country, with a rich history and culture, breathtaking landscapes, and incredible cuisine. It’s a country filled with people ready to welcome visitors as soon as it’s safe to do so. With this campaign we want to change the narrative of Ukraine and show people that there is so much to explore when the time is right to do so.
We are dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine as a tourism destination. We are working on plans to rebuild our infrastructure, our hotels, resorts and attractions for when it is safe for international visitors to return to Ukraine. We’re dedicated to creating jobs in tourism which will be so very important for the restoration of the tourism industry after our victory, and we need people to visit Ukraine and to help us with that recovery.
This campaign presents a unique opportunity for us to showcase Ukraine’s resilience and the indomitable spirit of our people as well as the incredible offering we have for visitors. The video presents a side of Ukraine that reflects our bravery and the ongoing fight for our country’s future.
Despite facing adversity, Ukrainians stand united in their commitment to preserving their heritage and promoting Ukraine as a welcoming and vibrant destination that should be on every future travelers’ bucket list.”
Link to video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RmV3uW0IRg
