New destination in Ukraine: magic Lviv

Turkish travelers are also getting the chance to have their dreams of visiting this magical city come true. The city of sleeping lions which has changed its name so many times -- Leopolis, Lwow, Lemberg -- throughout its long history today remains one of the most charming and mysterious beauties of Eastern Europe. It is the only Ukrainian "Ensemble of the Historic Centre" included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.

Lviv is in the heart of western Ukraine and is the crossroads between the country's east and west. Throughout its history, the city has fallen under the rule of different empires and nations which have left a pronounced impact on its culture, architecture and language. All of these different rules tried to add something special to Lviv's outlook. As such, the centuries-created city ensemble adds to the current special atmosphere of Lviv, a medieval, romantic ambiance.

So many places are worth visiting in Lviv. In the Old Town, for example, there is the Rynok (market) Square which hosts 44 houses, each of which enjoys its own very special history; and the Town Hall, with a great view of the city from the top of its tower. Lviv also offers a great variety of churches, cathedrals and cultural monuments such as the Opera Theater and the Maria Zankovecka Theater, as well as art galleries. One could also visit the High Castle, which offers a great view not only of the city, but also of its suburbs.

According to the Ukrainian Consulate General in Turkey's statistics, the number of Turkish citizens visiting Ukraine is increasing every year. It is a promising sign in the context of bilateral relations between Turkey and Ukraine. Ukrainian cities such as Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, Vinnitsa and Kerch have become sister cities or twin towns with their Turkish counterparts, namely Ankara, İstanbul, Bursa, Çanakkale and so on. The sister cities are engaged in developing different economic and cultural programs which include the exchange of students, the running of workshops between the relevant municipalities and participation in mutual projects, not to mention collaboration in many different areas. Now, with THY launching service to Lviv, the above-mentioned list gets even longer.

Moreover, like İstanbul in Turkey, Lviv has recently been named Ukraine's Cultural Capital, providing a boost in the city's drive towards becoming one of the most exciting tourism destinations in the region.

Lviv was recognized as the country's cultural capital as the result of extensive research carried out by the Tourism and Resort Council under the national tourism and culture service. One could give a long list of reasons why Lviv has been granted this accolade, and the city's 60 museums and more than 100 churches representing different denominations would be among them.

Among the accomplishments of the council is the city's annual hosting of more than 100 different festivals, which jointly with Lviv's architectural beauty, makes it a magnet for international tourists. During the past two years alone the number of tourists visiting Lviv has increased by 40 percent and now stands at more than 1 million visitors per year, with people coming from former Soviet countries such as Belarus and Russia, as well as from more traditionally tourism-oriented places such as Germany, Austria, Britain and the US. This city is famous as a center of literature, music, theater and architecture, and the culture-focused activities of the Lviv City Council greatly contribute to familiarizing people from other countries with its rich cultural heritage. Lviv's churches, frescoes and paintings, as well as its holidays and festivals, contribute to the legacy and the unique ambiance of Lviv.

According to recent statistics, more than 10,000 tourists now visit every festival held in Lviv. Meanwhile, the city's infrastructure has also radically improved, with more than 8,000 hotel beds and more than 700 restaurants and cafés now within the city limits and WiFi zones operational throughout the city center. Lviv is now better connected to the outside world than ever before with flights from Lviv to different destinations offered by numerous airlines, which makes it clear that Lviv has huge potential to grow as a tourist destination.

Ukraine is currently engaged in a process of developing its tourism strategy, and Lviv has to be the acknowledged tourism capital of Ukraine as well as the country's cultural capital. With this in mind, a nonprofit organization called The Lviv City Development Center has recently been established to help provide a wide range of informational services for the visiting tourists through a network of information centers and points to be located throughout the city.

Within the framework of a plan to attract more tourists to Lviv, a multivector approach is going to be adopted by the city council. Though on one hand, it is important to promote the city domestically throughout Ukraine, it is also necessary to continue participating in international tourism forums. At this year's international tourism forum, the Lviv administration is planning to unveil its program for the 2009 to 2012 period. The administration expects a wide range of international tourism sector professionals to participate in the upcoming event to share their experiences with everybody present.

This summer season is going to be rich in festivals, held both indoors and in the open. Lviv's authorities are also planning a number of new events to celebrate before the end of the 2009 which will most probably appeal to tourists and attract their attention.

* Consul General of Ukraine in İstanbul. He was born in Lviv.