Kiev to Get its First Tourist Information Bureau
August 4, 2007
Kiev, a city of 3 million and the capital of one of the largest countries in Europe (in size and population), still does not have a tourist information office where people can go to get maps, broschures, book accommodations, find out important city information, etc.
Finally, one of Kiev's district administrations has decided to take this task upon itself and create a tourist information center on Andriyivskiy Uzviz (Andreyiv descent), a popular historical street with souvenir shops and numerous sights. The center will distribute information about hotels, restaurants, sights, and tourist agencies.
This is just a drop in the bucket of what is needed. Here are my recommendations:
- Central tourist information office on Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square)
- Office on Andriyivskiy Uzviz (planned)
- Tourist information stands at Boryspil airport and the train station
We hope that the authorities will truly grasp the concept of a tourist information office rather than approach the task in Soviet style. What the office needs are smiling, self-confident people who speak Ukrainian, Russian, English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Polish and will give out plenty of useful information for free, including maps and broschures. The goal should be to help people find answers to their questions and solve problems, and not to sell them tours and excursions. This in particular is especially difficult for Ukrainian officials to understand. Hence, while excited that the city seems to be getting its act together, I am more than a bit skeptical about its ability to create a competent, European-style tourist information office.
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