On April 14, an international forum titled «Ukrainian Camino Routes: European Integration, Partnership, Development» took place in Vinnytsia. The event brought together representatives from Ukraine, Spain, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands, and Latvia to discuss the future of pilgrimage routes and their importance for local communities.
The discussion focused on the Camino Podolico route, which has existed since 2021 and was officially accepted into the European Federation of St. James Way in 2023, as well as the new Camino Ruteno route, which is currently in development.
The Camino Ruteno is planned to pass through the Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions, covering historic royal cities of Halychyna such as Chortkiv, Halych, Zvenyhorod, and Lviv. Its final point will be the village of Shehyni on the border with Poland. The total length of the route will be 460 kilometers.
«I am convinced that Camino Podolico, Camino Ruteno, and their integration with the European Camino de Santiago routes through Poland is an important step in shaping a shared European future for Ukrainian pilgrimage routes, allowing us all to feel part of one European family», said Andrii Ocheretnyi, Vice President of the European Federation of St. James Way and Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia, who opened the forum.
Nataliia Tabaka, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of such initiatives for domestic tourism and noted that the Ukrainian Camino will be one of the first projects within the program «Journey to Yourself. Paths of Recovery», aimed at emotional and psychological restoration of Ukrainians through travel within the country.
International Dialogue and European Context
The forum in Vinnytsia was attended by Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, President of the European Federation of St. James Way. His visit was not only a sign of professional cooperation but also an act of solidarity and support for Ukraine in difficult times.
«I once again express my personal strong support, as well as the support of the European Federation of St. James Way, for the people of Ukraine and their struggle for independence, sovereignty, and freedom – not only for their territory but for the entire European continent… You can count on the European Federation of St. James Way in supporting everything you do to restore, protect, manage, and promote the St. James routes in Ukraine: both Camino Podolico and Camino Ruteno», he stated.
International partners from Spain, Belgium, Poland, and the Netherlands shared their experience in developing Camino routes in Europe and presented successful examples of how these routes contribute to local economies and community development.
Latvian travel blogger and journalist Janis Grandans also attended the forum. This was his eighth visit to Ukraine with his family since 2023, and this time he planned to cycle the Camino Podolico route from Vinnytsia to Kamianets-Podilskyi.
Signing of a Memorandum: A New Stage of Cooperation
A key moment of the forum was the accession of the Camino Ruteno team to the Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at the development and promotion of St. James Ways in Ukraine.
The document was signed by Diana Vozna, Chief Specialist of the Department of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration; Taras Hrynchyshyn, Chief Specialist of the Investment and Development Department of the Executive Committee of the Bibrka City Council; Vitalii Muzhyk, Leading Specialist of the Hospitality Standards Unit of the Tourism Department within the Economic Development Department of the Lviv City Council; Marianna Batsvin, Deputy Director of the National Reserve «Ancient Halych»; as well as Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, President of the European Federation of St. James Way.
This signing marked an important step toward forming a unified Camino network in Ukraine.
Shared Vision of the Future
Special attention was given to pilgrims’ experiences. During an expert panel, participants shared personal stories of walking Camino Podolico, their motivations, and the personal transformations experienced along the way.
Among the invited guests were:
- Yurii Tsybukh – Lviv guide, activist, and architect who has walked the Camino Podolico twice;
- Dmytro Syvak – a tourist, mountaineer, and speleologist who accompanied a group of 15 children along the Camino Podolico route;
- Olha Shramko – a travel and lifestyle blogger;
- Nadiia Okhopko – a traveler who adopted a dog named Zhulia along the route;
- Svitlana Hordiichuk – a hiking guide and ambassador of the Camino Podolico.
For their active engagement and contribution to the promotion of the route, symbolic certificates of Ambassadors of the Camino Podolico route were awarded to them during the forum.
At the end of the forum, participants worked in thematic groups to discuss practical steps for developing Camino routes in Ukraine.
Thus, the event confirmed that Ukraine is steadily moving toward integration into the European cultural and tourism space. The development of Camino de Santiago routes is becoming not only a tourism project, but also a tool for international cooperation, cultural exchange, and community recovery.
The forum was organized by the Department of City Marketing and Tourism of Vinnytsia City Council, which serves as the coordinator of the Camino Podolico route. The event took place at the «Etnochary» art space and became an important platform for building partnerships, establishing new connections, and networking.
