Within the framework of the Erasmus+ INSPIRE project, "Innovative Support for Promoting Refugee Entrepreneurship in Tourism," meetings were held on October 25, 2024, with participants involved in the project who are actively engaged in adapting internally displaced persons (IDPs) to new territorial communities and their employment in the hospitality sector. The discussions during the event centred on tasks related to innovative support and promoting entrepreneurship among IDPs in tourism. The goal of Erasmus+ INSPIRE inspired participants through workshops, training sessions, and master classes to collaboratively develop practical proposals aimed at supporting IDPs, comparing best practices, and adopting experiences for fostering their involvement in entrepreneurship, particularly in the Khmelnytskyi region's tourism sector. Together, participants worked on generating new ideas for integrating IDPs into new environments and communities.
The first location visited was the Maliivtsi Regional Historical and Cultural Museum. There, participants learned how, in 2022–2023, the museum administration and the local community implemented practical approaches to accommodating IDPs, adapting them to the new conditions of the territorial community, and supporting the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. The coordinator in the Maliivtsi community was the museum director, Anastasiia Donets.
As part of the project, at the invitation of the head of the Staroushytska community, Anatolii Tymchuk, a trip was planned to their community, where a meeting was held with participants of the project, faculty members of Khmelnytskyi National University from the departments of tourism and hotel and restaurant business; management and administration; economic theory, entrepreneurship, and trade, as well as professors from the Kherson National Technical University, which was temporarily relocated to Khmelnytskyi in 2022, along with IDP students from KhNU. During the meeting, representatives from the village council, including Nataliia Bychok and Ihor Vyshemirskyi shared their experiences of working with the adaptation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the peculiarities of tourism development in the community, and talked about successful projects, infrastructure initiatives, and strategies for attracting tourists. They also discussed projects with IDPs from frontline regions, as well as the specifics of rehabilitating Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers.
Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the implementation of new ideas regarding the adaptation of IDPs to the new conditions of territorial communities and their employment in the tourism sector, as well as the factors that contribute to improving tourist infrastructure.
The next location was the village of Horayivka, home to an artistic residence where military personnel, IDPs, and creative individuals (artists, musicians, and writers) come for rehabilitation. These people require support, safe housing, and psychological assistance. During the visit, they explored Bakota Hub, co-founded by Alina Oliinyk is also the head of the NGO Cultural Club.
In Horayivka, participants also visited the rural green guesthouse "House of the Traveller," owned by Serhii Tolstykhin, an expert in rural green tourism development and our stakeholder, a professional practitioner. He led a workshop and master class as part of the mentioned project. It is important to note that "House of the Traveler" has become a place for the rehabilitation of military personnel and internally displaced persons (IDPs). "Bakota Therapy" is offered to these groups under the care of Serhii Tolstykhin, and such rehabilitation activities are planned to be conducted on a regular basis.
Additionally, participants of the event visited popular tourist locations in the Staroushytska community, including the herbalist shop "Pearls of Bakota", run by thePrudivus'ss family, toured the ecological trail "Ancient Bakota" and explored the historical and cultural landmarks of the Dniester Canyon.
During the mentioned meetings, constructive discussions took place, focused on further cooperation between partners, which will contribute to the successful implementation of the Erasmus+ INSPIRE project, "Innovative Support for Promoting Refugee Entrepreneurship in Tourism," and the achievement of its goals.
The coordinator and organizer of the excursion program to the listed locations was the Student Tourist Agency "Podilskyi Mandry" from the Department of Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Business at Khmelnytskyi National University.
We thank all the organizers and participants for their active involvement and creativity!