Photo from UNIAN, by Vladyslav Musienko
Initially, the sum was double.
Chair of the Government Agency for Tourism Development Maryana Oleskiv says the 2021 national budget, which was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on December 15, allocates over UAH 100 million, or US$3.6 million, for the development of Ukraine's tourism potential.
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Initially, more than UAH 200 million, or US$7.2 million, was earmarked in the 2021 national budget draft for the development of tourism. However, the amount was halved over the COVID-19 pandemic.
In turn, former head of the Ukrainian parliament's Tourism Development, Resort, and Recreational-Activity Committee Anna Romanova specified the amount of funds allocated for tourism, that is UAH 109.6 million, or US$3.95 million.
"Yes, not as much as we would like, but it's enough to implement many projects. And by the way, this is a record amount for the last decade of existence of tourism executive agencies," she said on Facebook on Wednesday.
In particular, she recalled that in 2016, some UAH 31 million, or US$1.1 million, was allocated to this end, of which, the Tourism Department used a mere UAH 14 million, or US$503,960. In subsequent years, the Finance Ministry earmarked a smaller amount, as the money was not used in full. In 2019, UAH 17 million, or US$612,392, was funneled into the sector, of which, the Department used a mere UAH 6 million, or US$216,138.
In 2020, a record high UAH 240 million, or US$8.6 million, was allocated for the development of tourism. However, the money was taken away from the Government Agency for Tourism Development during budget sequestration over the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.