On December 24, 2020, an online meeting of leading experts in the tourism industry was organized with the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Vladyslav Krykliy. This event was lead on the initiative of Anna Romanova, an expert of the USAID tourism development project in the Azov region, ex-head of the Verkhovna Rada subcommittee on the development of tourism, resorts and recreational activities.

Oleksandr Fainin, head of the USAID tourism development project in the Azov region, also took part in this meeting. He discussed with the minister the problems and prospects of the development of tourism and its transport component in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts, in which the macro-destination of the Azov region is located. Oleksandr Fainin asked the minister a question about the state of tourist transport in the Azov region. Mr. Krykliy answered the following:

• The development of cruise transport is currently not possible due to Russia blocking the Kerch Strait.
• The resumption of operations of the airports in Mariupol and Berdyansk is possible, but in the event of a state of “quietness” on the part of the ATO zone for at least one year.
• Regional State Administration takes care of the quality of intercity bus transport, so you should contact them on this issue.
• There is an opportunity to get electric transport for cities on very favorable terms. We draw the attention of the mayors of Melitopol, Berdyansk and Henichesk (there is an opportunity to make a trolley bus line to Arabatska Strilka).
• Regarding problems with the schedule of railway transport and the proposal to organize a route to Henichesk or, at least, Novooleksiivka, there is an opportunity to contact Oleksandr Pertsovsky.

A video recording of this conversation can be seen below.