Visits during Shavuot and other Jewish holidays demonstrate that Uman has the potential to develop this sector year-round.
Iryna Rybnytska, executive director of the “Historical and Cultural Center of the City of Uman” Charitable Foundation, spoke to Kommersant Ukrainian about the economic significance of such visits.
“During the Shavuot celebrations, we saw that the pilgrims didn’t limit themselves to just prayers. They visited stores, bought clothes, shoes, and groceries, used taxis, toured the city, and visited the burial sites of the tzadikim. This means that the pilgrimage also benefits the local economy,” noted Iryna Rybnytska.
According to her, pilgrims’ visits throughout the year have not only religious and cultural significance but also a tangible economic impact on the city. Pilgrims spend money at local stores, use public transportation, rent accommodations, and purchase essential goods, food, and other services.
“Every organized pilgrimage brings additional economic activity to the city. This includes shopping, transportation, lodging, services, as well as the tourist tax, which should go to the community budget. Therefore, it is important not just to welcome pilgrims, but to create a convenient, transparent, and civilized system for their stay in Uman,” emphasized the foundation’s executive director.
The foundation stresses that pilgrimage tourism should not be viewed solely as a seasonal phenomenon during Rosh Hashanah. Visits for Shavuot and other Jewish holidays demonstrate that Uman has the potential to develop this sector year-round.
This applies not only to major religious holidays but also to smaller-scale visits: for Jewish holidays, days of remembrance, family trips, and individual pilgrimages.
“Uman is already an important destination for Hasidim around the world. Our task is to ensure that pilgrimages are well-organized, safe, and beneficial for the city. If we develop this sector correctly, everyone wins: pilgrims receive quality service and respect for their traditions, while the community gains additional revenue, jobs, and the growth of local businesses,” said Iryna Rybnytska.
For Uman, these days are not only a religious event but also an example of how pilgrimage can be part of city life, tourism, economic development, and intercultural dialogue.
The foundation believes that to develop this sector, systematic work is needed on infrastructure, services, safety, information support, translation services, convenient payment of the tourist tax, and collaboration with local businesses.