Features of Pilgrimage Tourism in Ukraine (A Case Study of Uman)

In the modem world, most of the excursion places are related to religious tourism and UNWTO estimates that 300-330 tourists annually visit the most important religious sites in the world. In Ukraine, pilgrimage tourism is still very young, but it is rapidly gaining popularity among the pilgrims of different denominations. The largest pilgrimage flow to Ukraine is formed by Jews, and Uman is a powerful pilgrimage distinction. This article is devoted to revealing the features of pilgrimage tourism in Ukraine, identifying positive and negative aspects evidenced by Uman. The preconditions for the establishment of Uman as the center of pilgrimage, temporal trends of pilgrimages are considered, the key issues for the local community are outlined. A SWOT-analysis of the pilgrimage in Ukraine has been exemplified by Uman, which allows us to talk about the future prospects for the development of this type of tourism and possible threats. Positive and negative impact of pilgrimage tourism on the socio-economic development of the city and local community has been characterized.