ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF TOURISM RESOURCES IN THE FRONTLINE AREAS

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyze the current state of tourism resources in the frontline areas of Ukraine under the conditions of ongoing military conflict, assess the extent of losses, and identify potential strategies for post-war recovery and sustainable development of the tourism sector. The research methodology is based on the collection and synthesis of official statistics, analysis of scientific publications, government reports, and spatial data provided by geo-information platforms. A descriptive and comparative approach is applied to assess the damage to cultural, natural, and recreational infrastructure, as well as to evaluate the dynamics of tourist flows. Particular attention is paid to the potential of geospatial technologies and geoportals as tools for rebuilding tourism-related information systems. The results indicate that the war has caused severe damage to tourism infrastructure, including hotels, museums, religious and sports facilities, and natural destinations in the frontline and temporarily occupied territories. Approximately 30% of Ukraine’s territory remains contaminated with explosive hazards, posing substantial threats to tourist safety. There has been a dramatic decline in both domestic and international tourist numbers, especially in cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. Despite these challenges, the research highlights the emergence of new tourism forms, including memorial and war tourism, and the increasing interest in murals and symbolic locations that represent the face of the war. It was established that the eastern and southern regions were most critically affected, where the level of danger makes any tourist activity impossible. An analysis of the state of tourist flows in Ukraine was conducted. The promising potential of post-war locations for the development of memorial and military tourism was identified, as well as the need to create geoportals for navigation and information about safe routes. The practical significance of the findings lies in developing evidence-based recommendations for the recovery and strategic planning of tourism in post-conflict regions. The integration of geoportals is proposed as a key mechanism for providing real-time safety information, promoting local heritage, and attracting tourists to safe and meaningful destinations. The study supports the notion that tourism can contribute to economic revival and cultural resilience in post-war Ukraine.