On World Tourism Day in Kyiv, the Second Season of the Hospitality Academy Came to a Close

On 27 September, World Tourism Day, the second season of the project “Kyiv Hospitality Academy” concluded in the capital. The project of the Tourism and Promotion Department of the Kyiv City State Administration lasted a month and a half. It involved 60 volunteers and more than 20 Ukrainian and international experts, who shared their knowledge, which the participants were able to consolidate during their training in a series of practical sessions at various locations in the city.

The “Hospitality Academy” programme consisted of 10 modules in which speakers gave lectures on the role of volunteering in the development of the capital’s tourism, conducting tours, psychological support, intercultural communication, the use of language skills at work, gastronomic tourism, reputation management, the tourist experience, accessibility in tourism and hospitality, and the importance of networking.

“Despite the full-scale invasion and all the challenges linked to security and the closure of airspace, developing the capital’s tourism potential remains an important task for the city. The Academy is an effective tool for supporting and developing Kyiv’s tourism sector, which provides a significant share of jobs and revenue to the city budget. The project is aimed at training volunteers who will be able to help the city’s guests spend their time safely and comfortably. In addition to the main programme, participants underwent intensive training in responding to critical situations under martial law, and also delved into the basics of inclusive tourism, which will make it possible to introduce the principles of accessibility and hospitality for all visitors to Kyiv,” said Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Maryna Khonda.

All participants received certificates confirming completion of a course of theoretical and practical training of 120 academic hours.

“And although since February 2022, because of closed registers, we have no official statistical data on the number of tourists in Kyiv, we can say with confidence that tourism in the capital was, is and will be, even during the hardest times for the sector. And the steady revenue from the tourist tax to the city budget, which as of today exceeds 27 million hryvnias, is the brightest confirmation of this. It is very symbolic that the conclusion of the Hospitality Academy and the presentation of certificates to the volunteers fall precisely on World Tourism Day, because in this way we inspire the tourism community, people who, despite everything, continue their ceaseless development with one main goal: to do everything so that our beloved city continues to captivate all its guests! So we sincerely congratulate representatives of the industry on their professional holiday, and the graduates of the Hospitality Academy on gaining a new, unique experience, which from today they can put to use in their work,” said Maryna Radova, Head of the Tourism and Promotion Department of the Kyiv City State Administration.