International links

Throughout history foreign countries and companies had their representative offices in Lviv. Before World War II diplomatic representatives of 20 leading countries worked there. After the war the Soviet regime did everything possible to isolate the region from international life. Since Ukraine is independent, Lviv has been growing into an international trading, scientific, cultural and industrial center. Now there are the Consulates General of Poland and Russia, the Consulates of the Netherlands, Austria and Canada, representative offices of international air lines, transport companies, manufacturing and trading firms. The region takes an active part in student, professor and scientist exchange programmes with foreign educational and scientific institutions. Foreign musicians and theatre troupes often perform here and international art festivals are held.

Thorough economic research of the Lviv region has been conducted within the framework of European and American programmes. As a result, in 1992-1999, the volume of foreign investments considerably grew. A great number of joint ventures with American, British. Dutch, German, Swedish, Canadian, Polish, Czech and Russian financial capital

have appeared. Two free economic zones -SEZ "Yavoriv" and "Kurortopolis Truskavets" have been operating in the Lviv region since the beginning of 1999.

Text В:

Important European transport corridors pass through the region. The infrastructure of transport corridors Lisbon - Triest - Kyiv (motor transport and railway), Odessa - Gdansk (motor transport, railway, and pipeline) is now being improved. The development of the border - crossing points will enable them to increase the capacity up to 10 000 cars and trucks per day.

Text C:

A great number of privatized enterprises in Western Ukraine attract attention of potential investors. In 1993 - 1996 the Demonstration Agricultural Project sponsored by the Dutch government was implemented in the"Lviv region. The Dutch government plans to increase a number of projects for agricultural sector of the Lviv region. German, American, Canadian and French companies work successfully in different districts. The "Svitoch" company cooperates with the world-known company of "Nestle".

Text D:

Today the Lviv Region is a big center in the communication and information exchange. Inhabitants of the Region use all types of modern communication services. The first specialized Lviv post office was opened in the 17th century. Nowadays post offices are in all localities of the Lviv Region.

The biggest Telephone Company is "Lvivtelecom" with its divisions in all district centres. Specialists of the company mount equipment and operate communication means. Some private companies are providing the fast mail and parcels delivery. The Ukrainian - American - Dutch - German joint venture Ukrainian Telecommunications» (U'TEL) provides clients of the Region with reliable communication services. "Ukrainian Mobile Communications" (UMC) installs mobile telephones, "Ukrpage" and "BEEPER-Lviv"-pages.

Lviv and Kyiv are connected by fiber - optical cables, the city is united with Europe by communication networks. Using a powerful station of space communication built for the hot line Washington - Moscow gives big opportunities.

The computer networks (Internet) are served by the providers of the institutions of the Academy of Sciences, the university "Lviv Polytechnics", private companies.

Lviv has a powerful transmitting TV-radio centre. More and more people use services of the cable television. One state and six private TV and radio companies work in the Region. Lviv radio "Lux" broadcasts in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine.

The Lviv mass media play an important part in popularizing the Ukrainian language and culture in other regions of the country. Published editions are a part of the system of accumulation, exchange and spreading information. Thirty newspapers, popular and scientific magazines are published in the Region and distributed outside. The Region is a traditional center of publishing in Ukraine with 30 publishing-houses and 8 printing-houses. The Lviv Regional Department of Statistics gathers statistic information, its sections are in all districts of the Region. The department processes and analyses data, provides institutions and private persons with the needed information.

*** The Lviv region is an ecologically clean area, not touched by the Chernobyl catastrophe.

The Carpathian Mountains, a part of which is located in the Lviv region, are unique natural complex. It is one of the ecologically cleanest places in Europe. Forests, mountain rivers and streams, picturesque mountain landscapes, springs of medicinal mineral water create favourable climate conditions for recreation and tourism.

The Lviv region is significant in Ukraine in the sphere of tourism and recreation. The total area of recreation landscapes forms 13% of the, region territory.

The mountain relief gives good perspectives for development of summer and winter tourism, mountain skiing. Famous mountain-skiing centers are Slavske, Skole, Hrebeniv, Tukhlia, Rozluch, Dovhe, Tysovets.

A plain landscape, especially pine and beech forests around Lviv, can also be interesting for tourists.

The Lviv region is famous for its medicinal mineral waters with bio-active organic substances. Water of Truskavets spring "Naftussia" has a unique therapeutic effect. Now springs in Truskavets and Skhidnitsa are used only at 10%. Hydrocarbonate-sulphate, calcium-sulphate and sodium-calcium waters are in Truskavets, Morshyn, Skhidnytsia. Well-known sulphate waters are in Liuben Velyky and Shklo. A big number of sanatorium, rest homes, health resorts, tourist bases are situated near these mineral springs.

Ruins of former fortifications and reconstructed castles in Olesko, Pidhirtsi, Urych, Svirzh, Zolochiv, Pomoriany as well as historical, cultural and architectural monuments of Lviv are very interesting for tourism.

In Maydan, Sambir, Zadvirya, Polianytsia, Roztochia there are national parks with rare animals. In the Lviv region there are 22 hunting forests (total area of 360,000 hectares). Strictly controlled hunting on wolves, hares, ducks, elks, deer, wild Uoars, roes, foxes is permitted.

The Lviv region has a good transport infrastructure (fuel and service stations, auto shops) with all necessary auto services for tourists' needs. Offering a great variety of tourist services, 77 tourist Firms work in the region.

The development of the tourist business is based on a wide network of hotels, campings and rest homes. Most of them are in Lviv, Truskavets and in the Carpathian Mountains. In Lviv there are hotels offering a high level of services: "The Grand-Hotel", "The Dnister"'. "The Lion's Castle" and others. In Truskavets, hotels are linked in a sanatorium-hotel complex "Truskavetskurort", where medical treatment and examination can be received.

Hotels in the Carpathian Mountains are not big and filled mainly in summer and winter. Hotels in Lviv accept credit cards- After the privatization many private restaurants and cafes were opened in Lviv and other towns of the region, offering good and tasty food. There is a steady rise in the number of fast food restaurants, bars and campings in the region.

The complex of the tourism infrastructure and services of the Lviv region is developing very fast. All the year round it provides clients with high-quality services for tourism, rest, sport and relaxation.