Association Leaders of tourist industry of Ukraine (ALTU) initiated discussion on the safety of Ukrainian tourists during emergencies

June 18, 2010 hosted the first meeting of the institutional and legal environment and regulatory ensure minimization of future natural disasters and other contingencies for Ukrainian tourists and tourism industry with representatives from the State Tourism and Resorts of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, State Motor Vehicle Administration and the State Aviation Administration of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine, Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine and the Association of Leaders of tourist industry of Ukraine.

ALTU proposed package of measures aimed at minimizing the consequences of natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances, for Ukrainian tourists. It is proposed to classify the contingencies in terms of potential threats and risks for the Ukrainian citizens, to develop and approve procedures to assess such situations and the decision to declare certain areas undesirable for visiting citizens of Ukraine to adopt procedures for the immediate disclosure of such information. ALTU also proposed the establishment of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Inter-Ministerial Commission on security and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens who exercise the tourist travel abroad, including in case of emergencies.

Suggestions Alto, on the need to coordinate activities of state bodies and public organizations were largely supported. Representatives of government agencies have confirmed that all the necessary capabilities to provide the necessary assistance to Ukrainian citizens, who have fallen into a dangerous situation.

Backgrounds

Due to the closure of 17 April airspace of Ukraine through the volcanic eruption in Iceland, tens of thousands of tourists from Ukraine failed to reach the planned vacations or time to return home.

Tour operators, travel industry leaders to members of the Association of Ukraine (Alto), made every possible effort to minimize the impact of the lifting flights for tourists from Ukraine. Most airlines have allowed without penalty pereboronyuvaty tickets or returned the money. The leading Ukrainian tour operators reached agreements with hotels in Israel, Turkey and Egypt to free the extension of residence of Ukrainian tourists, which at the time of closure of the airspace of Ukraine rested in those countries. Also managed to negotiate with European hotel owners to provide an opportunity for Ukrainian tourists take payed services at any time during the year.

At the same time, ALTU concludes that the scope of tourism in Ukraine as a whole was not ready to minimize the consequences for Ukrainian tourists a natural disaster - it must be noted the lack of coherence in the work of both the relevant state authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Culture and Tourism, and in the tourism industry. On this occasion ALTU letter sent to the Cabinet of Ministers with specific proposals on measures to overcome these phenomena in the future.

Press office

Association Leaders of tourist industry of Ukraine

06/22/2010