Cultural and tourist routes of small towns of Ukraine: between preservation of historical heritage and modern challenges of sustainable development

Abstract

The article is devoted to considering the possibilities of developing cultural tourism in small towns of Ukraine, based on their historical, cultural and architectural heritage, taking into account the existing infrastructure and management challenges. Special attention is paid to the theoretical understanding of the concept of "small town" in a historical and retrospective format and the legislative framework of Ukraine. The analysis is based on the practical experience of a number of cities, such as Ostroh, Polonne, Brody, Kremenets, Baturyn, Volodymyr and Zhovkva. Special emphasis is placed on Ostroh as a city that became the base for the implementation of the project "Development of a methodology for marking historical attractions in small towns of Ukraine. Cultural intervention in the past for the sake of a journey into the future”. The example of the city of Zhovkva in Lviv region is also separately considered, which is a vivid example of a historical “ideal city”, and also has a powerful historical and cultural background in combination with modern managerial visions of tourism development. In addition, the geographical location of Zhovkva, proximity to the regional center, on the one hand, and to the border with other countries, on the other, are additional attractive factors for the development of cultural tourism. The example of Zhovkva demonstrates that effective tourism development is possible due to the integration of historical potential, creative participation of the local community and attraction of external investments and support from local authorities. The importance of local level initiatives, cooperation between sectors and the use of project management principles for the creation of long-term tourism products is emphasized. The research emphasis is placed on the creation of tourist routes based on local cultural identity, as well as the implementation of digital technologies, including QR codes and mobile applications, to improve access to attractions in small towns. The work also emphasizes the role of popularizing significant local personalities in forming a recognizable tourist brand of each city (legendary images, historical figures, landmark events in the history of the city). The results of the study will be useful for specialists in the field of tourism and cultural heritage preservation, as well as for representatives of local authorities who seek to use tourism as a tool for sustainable development and strengthening social cohesion of the community.