The article studies the conceptual principles of the development of ethnic tourism in Ukraine in the context of post-war recovery as one of the promising directions of cultural and cognitive tourism. In the context of the post-war transformation of Ukrainian society, ethnic tourism is considered an effective tool for integrating cultural experiences and national memory, which is highly relevant for overcoming the traumatic consequences of the war and restoring social unity. The study outlines six main ways for tourists to interact with local communities in the context of ethnic tourism, which ensure deep cultural immersion, social integration, and sustainable development of territories. These include participation in traditional cultural events, craft workshops, staying with families, volunteer activities, dialogue and cultural exchange, as well as involving communities in the creation of tourism products. The scientific substantiation for each approach is based on authoritative theories – from the conceptions of cultural dimensions and living heritage to social constructivism and community-based tourism. It is determined that ethnic tourism has significant prerequisites for successful functioning and development. It is further determined that modern ethnotourism practices in Ukraine have the potential to transform into a sustainable socioeconomic resource for regional development. Special attention is given to the analysis of factors that hinder the development of this type of tourism, particularly the destroyed infrastructure and poor coordination at the State level. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the development of an original conceptual model of ethnic tourism as a factor for sociocultural stabilization and national consolidation in the context of post-war recovery. The key vectors for engaging ethnic tourism as a platform for international partnership, humanitarian cooperation, and enhancing the soft power of the State have been identified. The model is aimed at creating competitive, inclusive, and sustainable ethnic tourism that can play an important role in the recovery of regions, increasing social capital, and establishing a positive image of Ukraine in the world.
Haponenko et al. (Wed,) studied this question.