Ukraine Tourism to the Travel Industry: Scream You’re Against the War
Photo Credit: A view of Kyiv in better times, captured in December 2021 Unsplash / Gleb Albovsky
Skift Take
Speak up against the war and stop doing business with Russia as many firms already have. That's the message that Ivan Liptuga, president of the National Tourism Organization of Ukraine, has for the travel industry.
Ukraine Coverage
Skift’s reporters and editors are working to explain how the war on Ukraine is impacting travel. All of our stories about the subject are free for all readers.Exactly one month ago, a message was spreading online inviting travelers to “Keep Calm and Visit Ukraine” amid heightened tensions with Russia. When Skift dug into the source of the campaign, it was Ivan Liptuga — president of the National Tourism Organization of Ukraine — who confirmed his group was not behind what he called an irresponsible message.
But even then the threat of an unprovoked war and attack from Russia didn’t seem real to him or to his fellow Ukrainians.
“Your words were right — Ukraine, until the last moment, didn't believe in risks,” Liptuga told Skift on Wednesday, speaking from his home in Odessa in the south of Ukraine. He said the current situation on his side, for now, was better than other cities in the north, including Kyiv where his tourism board office is located.
“This really reflects what happened in Ukraine just a week ago. Nobody believed, including the president, including the government and
