Keywords
resort and recreational sector
sanatorium and SPA industry
health and wellness tourism
tourism product
regional development
SWOT analysis
competitiveness
resorts
medical tourism
natural therapeutic resources
How to Cite
Abstract
The article examines the current state, key challenges, and development prospects of Ukraine’s resort and recreational industry under prolonged socio-economic, demographic, and security pressures. The growing role of the sanatorium-resort and health-and-wellness sector is substantiated as a strategic component of the national healthcare system, social rehabilitation, and sustainable territorial development, particularly in the context of post-war recovery. The study synthesizes theoretical approaches of Ukrainian scholars to the analysis of resource potential, spatial organization, and institutional support of resort and recreational activities. The methodological framework is based on systemic, structural-functional, and regional approaches, combined with SWOT analysis as a tool for strategic industry assessment. The SWOT analysis identifies key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting the development of the sector. Major competitive advantages include a substantial natural therapeutic resource base, historically established resort territories, the integration of medical, rehabilitation, and tourism components within the resort product, and growing domestic demand for health and rehabilitation services. At the same time, the study highlights systemic problems related to deteriorated infrastructure, uneven territorial development, limited investment resources, and insufficient integration into the international tourism market. Regional development features are analyzed, along with a case study of the Truskavets resort as an example of a functioning sanatorium-resort cluster. The expediency of adopting European experience in cluster development, resort branding, integration of sanatorium treatment into medical insurance systems, and the implementation of innovative technologies is substantiated. The findings may be applied in developing sectoral strategies, regional recovery programs, and management practices in health-and-wellness and medical tourism.
References
1. Dolynska, O. (2024). Current state and prospects for the development of health and wellness tourism in Ukraine. Scientific Notes Ternopil National Volodymyr Hnatyuk Pedagogical University. Series: Geography, 57(2), 129–135. https://doi.org/10.25128/2519-4577.24.2.14
2. Drobotova, M., Opalko, V., & Omelchenko, A. (2024). Innovative facilities of Ukraine’s resort and recreational sector: trends and development prospects. Economy and Society, (65). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2024-65-87
3. Filiuk, S. M. (2022). System of innovation and investment measures of economic strategy for restoring Ukraine’s tourism and recreational potential. Ukrainian Journal of Applied Economics and Technology, 7(2), 417–425. https://doi.org/10.36887/2415-8453-2022-2-51
4. Halkiv, L. I., Kulyniak, I. Ya., & Herbut, M. V. (2017). Health resort activity: market of health resort services in regions of Ukraine. Visnyk Natsionalnoho universytetu “Lvivska politekhnika”. Seriia: Problemy ekonomiky ta upravlinnia, 4(873(1), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.23939/semi2017.01.018
5. Horbatiuk, L. M., & Borysenko, V. V. (2024). Analysis of the current state of Ukraine’s sanatorium and resort industry and prospects for its development during wartime. Economic Herald of the Donbas, (3), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.12958/1817-3772-2024-3(77)-41-49
6. Kostohlodova, K. O., & Svitlychna, V. Yu. (2024). Management of the development of Ukraine’s sanatorium and resort complex: prospects, challenges, and strategic priorities. In Globalization Processes: Challenges and Solutions (pp. 168–170). https://tinyurl.com/2dn9doop
7. Lendiel, G. D. (2009). Formation, development and reformation of sanatoria and health resorts system of Ukraine. Ukrainian Society, 4(31), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.15407/socium2009.04.074
8. Markhonos, S. M., & Turlo, N. P. (2017). Recreational complexes of Ukraine: prerequisites for creation and directions of development. Pryazovskyi Economic Herald, 2(2), 118–122. http://pev.kpu.zp.ua/journals/2017/2_02_uk/25.pdf
9. Nod, O. (2022). Tourism and the resort and recreational sector: features, problems, and development prospects. Ukrainian Journal of Applied Economics and Technology, 7(2), 296–304. https://doi.org/10.36887/2415-8453-2022-2-36
10. Nosyriev, O. O. (2024). Health and wellness tourism: trends and strategic development vectors. Taurida Scientific Herald. Series: Economics, (20), 321–331. https://doi.org/10.32782/2708-0366/2024.20.38
11. Omelchak, H. V. (2024). Risks, trends, and prospects for resort development under changing conditions. In I All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation (pp. 293–296). Kamianske: DDTU. https://www.dstu.in.ua/storage/2024/05/zbirnyk.pdf#page=293
12. Perih, T., Kushnir, L., & Terletska, O. (2024). Recreational and tourism potential of small resorts in Lviv region during martial law: features of use and prospects. Economy and Society, (65). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2024-65-14
13. Shmal, K. O., & Khorosha, O. I. (2025). Trends in the development of modern sanatorium and resort facilities in Ukraine. In IV All-Ukrainian Scientific and Technical Conference VNTU. https://tinyurl.com/2263ofpo
14. State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine. (2025). Summer tourism 2025: where Ukrainians travel and what type of recreation they choose during wartime. State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine. https://www.tourism.gov.ua/blog/litniy-turizm-2025-kudi-mandruyut-ukrayinci-ta-yakiy-vidpochinok-obirayut-u-chas-viyni
15. Stupen, N. M. (2018). Analysis of functioning and development prospects of the resort and recreational industry. Marketing and Management of Innovations, (1), 62–72. http://doi.org/10.21272/mmi.2018.1-04
16. Tarchynets, M. V., Sidiki, O. S., & Pas, Ya. I. (2024). Evolution of the resort city of Truskavets: historical overview and economic potential. Academic Visions, (28). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10721274
17. Zakharchenko, P. V., & Zhvanenko, S. A. (2013). Model of innovative economic development of the national resort and recreational complex. Ekonomika ta derzhava, (4), 47–50. http://www.economy.in.ua/?op=1&z=2326&i=12
18. Zhvanenko, S. A. (2016). Systemic interrelation between optimality and competitiveness in resort and recreational systems. In Economic Cybernetics: Problems of Management of Socio-Economic Systems (pp. 167–170). Dnipro: Porohy. https://ipbt.ust.edu.ua/file/sbornik_konferentsii.pdf#page=168
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Oleksandr Nosyriev