Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov called Wednesday for development of the tourism industry to boost the country's economy, according to Xinhua.
"Tourism development contributes to the development of other sectors, such as transportation, communications, construction and trade," Azarov told a government meeting here.
Azarov said officials should make efforts to upgrade the tourism infrastructure, especially health spas, resort establishments and hotels, to support the sustainable development of tourism.
The tourism industry needs to attract and retain highly qualified and motivated employees to improve its image on the world arena, the prime minister said.
He also urged the government to take policy initiatives in the near future to promote tourism industry.
Ukraine has diverse tourism resources, including historical and cultural sites, mountains, ski resorts and coastal areas on the Black Sea and Azov Sea. In 2011, it received about 25 million international visitors.
