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The United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO, has reported that Ukraine’s tourism industry requires $9 billion for recovery over the next decade following the impacts of the ongoing two-year war. This war, ignited by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has resulted in Europe’s most deadly confrontation since World War Two, leading to a significant loss in tourism revenue estimated at over $19.6 billion.
In a statement, Krista Pikkat, UNESCO’s director of culture and emergencies, said, “The damage continues to increase, and the needs for the sector’s recovery continue to grow.” UNESCO’s recent assessment, timed with the war’s two-year mark, also outlined the extensive damage inflicted on Ukraine’s cultural heritage, valuing it at approximately $3.5 billion—a 40% increase from the previous year.
According to the UN, the war has harmed 340 cultural sites, including museums, monuments, libraries, and religious venues. The report also highlighted the growing urgency for international support to address these challenges, emphasizing the role of global solidarity, risk prevention, and creative industry support in mitigating the war’s long-term detrimental effects on Ukraine’s cultural and tourism sectors.
The agency has called for the international community to contribute funds to rebuild Ukraine’s tourism sector.
