Medical tourism, IT and digital technology can help draw foreign tourists to Ukraine - UN Tourism secretary-general

UN Tourism Secretary-General Sheikha Nasser Al-Nowais visited Ukraine on August 15 to support the country's people and announce international initiatives aimed at boosting its tourism sector. She highlighted medical tourism, IT, and digital technology as promising areas for development, noting that Ukraine's strengths in these fields can position it favorably for attracting foreign tourists in the future.

Al-Nowais emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders in the tourism process and stressed that recovery efforts should begin immediately, as ten years had passed since the last UN Tourism secretary-general visit to Ukraine. She also discussed the need for international coordination and sharing of experiences in rebuilding tourism sectors after a crisis, focusing on safety, accessibility, and inclusiveness.

Natalia Tabaka, head of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, stated that the visit reaffirmed Ukraine's presence on the global tourism agenda and its recovery is a priority internationally. The UN Tourism secretary-general introduced a special category of its Safe Destinations Challenge initiative, providing technical support for Ukraine and other member states.

Throughout her visit, Al-Nowais visited UNESCO World Heritage sites and presented awards for the winners of the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages of Ukraine competition.