KIEV, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has established the National Tourism Organization (NTO) to develop the country's tourism market, a senior government official said Wednesday.
"The aim of the NTO is to create a platform, uniting regional, urban and sectoral tourism organizations for the improvement of the national tourist product," Ivan Liptuga, head of the tourism and resorts department of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry, said on Facebook.
The institution created under the guidance of the World Tourism Organization is tasked with training professionals in the tourism sector and promoting Ukraine's image as an attractive tourist destination, Liptuga said.
Ukraine's tourism sector was severely hit by the recent crisis in the country, with the number of foreign visitors having plunged 15-fold in the last two years.
As the situation in Ukraine is improving, Kiev is trying to revive the tourism industry, offering an eased visa regime for some countries and tours that are among the cheapest in Europe.
