From ski resort to tourist hub: how Bukovel is shaping the model of the future
10 October 19:32
EXCLUSIVE
Bukovel is planning a large-scale reconstruction that will make the resort town even more attractive to investors and tourists. This was stated by Bohdan Krasavtsev, Head of the Bukovel Sustainable Development Office, during the business discussion “Bukovel as an investment magnet: has the last train left the station?” organized by "Komersant Ukrainian".
He said that in 2026, Bukovel plans to launch a large-scale reconstruction of the resort’s central square to make it an even more attractive tourist magnet.
“We recognize the need to update this location. The area will become larger, more comfortable and functional. When a lot of tourists come, there are queues at the ski lifts. By the way, we have two observation lifts right there on the site. We even run an additional one. It is the highest one, with a capacity of four people. Because we realize that we need to open up the opportunity to go up to the top for as many guests as possible,” says Krasavtsev.
The reconstruction will start in the spring, right after the winter season. The concept of the renovated square has not yet been disclosed. In addition, representatives of the Bukovel Sustainable Development Office are “keeping it secret,” but they are indeed working with Archimatika.
Inclusivity as part of the resort’s philosophy
Bukovel defines inclusiveness as a separate direction of its development. According to the inclusive policy coordinator, today the resort’s accessibility level is only 5 out of 10 possible points.
Our vision is that the resort should be as inclusive as possible. Our goal is to implement real changes in 2025 to make the infrastructure more comfortable for people with disabilities. We plan to carry out some of the work during periods with less tourist activity so as not to cause inconvenience,” explains the manager.
Educational infrastructure: from school to science park
As the number of permanent residents of the resort grows, the development of educational infrastructure becomes increasingly important.
Bukovel is not just a place for recreation. Hundreds of people from different regions live and work here. The issue of schools, kindergartens, and extracurricular activities is very relevant. In the Polianytsia community, we have a school with a lot of children, but for additional classes, for example, we have to go to Yaremche,” says Krasavtsev.
Bukovel also has a Science Park, opened in early 2025, which has become popular among families with children. However, the company sees a need to further develop educational and entertainment projects.
A private school, kindergarten, or a network of clubs is not only a social but also an investment opportunity. That’s why we urge you to invest in educational infrastructure if you want to – we are open to it. We are also open to green infrastructure,” added Krasavtsev.
Investment opportunities, projects, and a water park
According to the head of the Sustainable Development Office, Bukovel can actually offer an unlimited number of investment opportunities. And the recently opened Mavka water park has shown that the demand for interesting projects is huge.
People choose something interesting. The water park is now a new magnet for people to go to. But it’s not enough to just open a museum, a new educational center, or a location. Success in this business is determined by a well-thought-out strategy and marketing. Ukraine has a great example of the Ukraine WOW project, and I’m sure that Bukovel can be a successful platform for similar initiatives,” Krasavtsev said.
Pricing policy: Bukovel is not only for wealthy tourists
Despite the reputation of a “luxury resort,” Bukovel emphasizes that vacationing there can be affordable for different categories of tourists.
“I live in Bukovel and I can say that prices vary greatly. There are hotels for 1300 UAH per night, and there are hotels for 10 thousand UAH. Everyone has their own request,” explains Krasavtsev.
“In 2025, a Silpo supermarket will open on the resort’s territory, which should provide an affordable level of food prices. In addition, Bukovel has an actively developing restaurant chain – more than 50 locations of various formats. Accordingly, there are price offers for any tourist.
Ecological approach and principles of sustainable development
The Lake of Youth and the beach in Bukovel have received the international Blue Flag certificate for environmental standards.
We don’t want to build up everything with hotels. People come here to see the Carpathians, nature, not concrete and glass. Our task is to maintain a balance between urbanization and wildlife,” he emphasizes.
The company is also actively implementing feedback from guests – feedback can be left via QR codes, and each comment is processed by the management.
Read also: Business doesn’t give up: how Ivano-Frankivsk region became one of the investment magnets
The resort of the future: slow tourism and all-season
The resort is actively moving to an all-season tourism model. In summer, Bukovel becomes a center for active recreation: hiking trails, extreme parks, bicycle tours, in autumn tourists come to pick mushrooms, and in spring the resort offers wellness, SPA, conferences and opportunities for high-quality events.
That is, snow (due to climate change – ed.) is no longer a guarantee. We cannot predict when it will fall and whether it will be enough to start the winter season. That’s why we invest in infrastructure that attracts tourists all year round,” explains Krasavtsev.
The resort plans to actively develop sports tourism as well.
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