In consideration of modern economic progress trends, powerful industrial potential of our city and necessity of diversification of economy, industrial tourism appears as the new perspective phenomenon, capable to convert Kryvyi Rih City into the tourist center.
This choice is fully grounded as in fact our city has a rich industrial inheritance – over 250 industrial objects including mines, careers, dumps, galleries, drifts, winzes, tailings of hydrotechnical buildings, fragments of ancient mining landscapes, workings settlements, etc.
World practice of industrial tourism development revealed in numbers speaking for themselves: in France about 1700 companies offer excursions to the industrial objects, in England the Kedberry chocolate factory is visited annually by 400 000 persons; the factories of BMW, Audi, thematic park Volkswagen’s Autostadt in Germany, Legoland in Denmark and others have become the favourite places of tourists.
Potential of the Kryvyi Rih City in this field is considerably larger as evidenced by the research results of scientists - professor Kazakov V.L., candidate of geographical science, a head of physical geography, local history and tourism department at Kryvyi Rih National University and assistant professor of the same department, candidate of geographical science Patsyuk V. who have thoroughly analysed the resource base of Kryvyi Rih region, selected the most attractive industrial objects and grounded advisability of development of this industry in the city.
Development of industrial tourism is a component of Kryvyi Rih marketing strategy, it is a powerful tool in creation of competitive city brand and attracting investments.
The workinggroup of the Program of industrial tourism development in Kryvyi Rih from 2013 till 2015 consisits of the representatives of the City Council executive committee, City Development Institution, industrial enterprises of the city, tourist agencies, cultural establishments, Kryvyi Rih National University.
Due to active work the members of workinggroup conducted a series of meetings, prepared materials of presentations and lectures, developed conceptual issues of the Program and arrangements including the audit of present tourist resources, development of excursion routes, development of tourist infrastructure, publicity-informative support and others.
On 11 January, 2013 the final meeting was held at the City Council executive committee and the list of the Program activities was confirmed. Thus, in the very near future it is planned to launch the trilingual Internet resource “Industrial tourism in Kryvyi Rih region” and edit the «Encyclopedia of industrial tourism in Kryvyi Rih region».
Implementation of the Program of industrial tourism development will be creation of modern tourist infrastructure, positioning Kryvyi Rih as a center of industrial tourism, popularization of industrial objects, producing an attractive investment image of the city, increase of receipts in a local budget, new workplaces.
So, in the near future Kryvyi Rih is able to become a modern center of industrial tourism.