Supporting The Ukraine Tourism Community
Please donate to help us help, in a responsible way, the tourism community of Ukraine.
The Charitable Travel Fund are supporting an initiative developed with The National Tourism Organization of Ukraine, initially focused on Odessa, that enables heritage, arts and cultural attractions in this great and historic city to welcome groups from the ninety thousand domestic Ukrainian refugees displaced due to the Russian invasion.
The war brought upon Ukraine is a humanitarian disaster and has taken a terrible toll in lives, property, prosperity, freedom of the country. Specifically, for The Charitable Travel Fund, our colleagues in Ukraine’s once thriving tourism industry have lost the livelihoods and aspirations forged over many decades of freedom.
Our Project
Our aim is for this initiative to become a beacon for tourism, employment in tourism in a limited way – given the circumstances – for those without, and a much-needed positive diversion for those forced in the worst circumstances of war and invasion to flee their homes to the comparative sanctuary of Odessa.
In collaboration with The National Tourism Organization of Ukraine, we will be funding groups of refugees experiencing The Odessa Literary Museum and Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre on selected dates which will support those venues, the staff and guides, providing a programme of activity, snacks and beverage for the adults and children attending.
In addition, whilst tourism is dormant in Ukraine, we hope this activity will highlight the incredible history, culture and heritage of Odessa and Ukraine to the world, ready for when the war is over the Ukraine can again welcome visitors from overseas.
Our hope is to expand the experiences we have started in Odessa, always mindful of the safety of the people and with your help and The National Tourism Organization of Ukraine spread the activity over time and location in Ukraine.
The Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
The Opera and Ballet Theatre is the oldest theatre in Odessa, Ukraine. The Theatre and the Potemkin Stairs are the most famous buildings in Odesa. The first opera house was opened in 1810 and destroyed by fire in 1873. The modern building was constructed by Fellner & Helmer in neo-baroque (Vienna Baroque) style and opened in 1887. The architecture of the luxurious audience hall follows the late French rococo style. The unique acoustics of the horseshoe-designed hall allows performers to deliver even a whisper-low tone of voice from the stage to any part of the hall. This is truly a pearl of Ukraine heritage and culture and was widely visited before the invasion.
The Odessa Literary Museum
The Museum was opened to the visitors in 1984 and is one of the largest regional literary museums in Ukraine. Historically, in 1898 the City Council rented the palace from the Prince Gagarin, turned the building to the Odessa Literary and Artistic Society, which united writers, artists, musicians and actors. The meetings and evenings of the Society were held until 1903. Now the museum presents more than 300 writers, one way or another connected with Odessa. The exposition of the museum houses in 21 halls, includes three directions: the memorial component, the museum of books and Odessa book printing proper, as well as the history of the development of literature in Odessa.
