In 2009, the Carpathian national nature-oriented park obtained a new department, namely the Eco-tourist visit-centre which was formed owing to the financial support of the European Union as a part of the project ‘Creation of cross-border network of development and promotion of tourism flow between Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine and Maramuresh district of Romania’. The project is coordinated by the Touristic association of Ivano-Frankivsk region in partnership with the Carpathian national nature-oriented park, Ivano-Frankivsk regional state administration and the ‘Ecologic’ association, Romania.

The main aim of creation and functioning of the visit-centre in Yaremche is fostering the formation of attractive ecologic and touristic impression of the Carpathian national conservation park areas. Nowadays the Park seems to be the only tourist object representing either the locality or the modern concepts of environmental protection in appealing and curious format for the pleasure of visitors.

Eco-tourist visit-centre of the Carpathian national conservation park is the reflection of the peculiar model of the Ukrainian national park with three imminent components: nature, the beauty and originality of the natural scenery; history, distinctness and uniqueness of the historic and ethnographic background; religion, sacrality and holiness of local cultural sanctuaries and architectural monuments. This triunity was genetically perpetuated and inherited in the consciousness of local people, Hutsuls, which is passed from one generation to the next one.

The exhibition hall of the visit-centre is the place where newcomers can learn loads of interesting facts about the Carpathian land, conservation areas, diversity of animal and plant world, culture and everyday life of local inhabitants, monuments of sacral architecture during fascinating excursions.

The map scheme of the Carpathian national conservation park is of special interest, its photographs illustrating the most noteworthy and visitable tourist routes with bright info materials and video clips enclosed.

Something magnificent is in the replica of Chornohora chain in the form of sculptural miniature of the mountain summits and flanks scraping the sky on the height exceeding 2,000 m.a.s.l. The peculiarity of this installation consists in that every visitor who cannot see and climb Chornohora himself for this or that reason is able to conquer any of the tops in several seconds. Three dioramas depict various elements of natural complexes (semi-aquatic, forest and subalpine ecosystems with their unique scenery, endemic animals, plants, etc.).

Construction of expositions was carried out according to the compatible project design scheme presuming the complete replication of the primary environment, since the expositional value is pertinent to everything surrounding the visitor. Such scheme makes it possible to reconstruct the natural landscape and locality with most surgical precision.

Special attention is paid to the ethnographic exposition, inasmuch as the territory of the Carpathian national conservation park is the part of Hutsulshchyna, the historic and ethnographic region still preserving its distinctive singularity in everything including everyday life and household, customs and traditions, manner of construction of sacred buildings and dwellings. This is where the old wooden temples, those monuments of the ecclesiastic architecture of the 16-20th centuries. Carven icon screens and vintage icons give the Divine grace and power to everybody who believes. Most spread kinds of traditional folk fine art are wood carving and burning-out, art of metalwork, pottery, rug making, weaving, pysankarstvo (painting artwork on eggs), embroidery. The Hutsul folklore is exceptionally abundant especially with ritual songs, fairy tales, legends, incantations, stories somehow related to convictions and superstitions, kolomyiky.

In addition, the closest simulation of ethnographic peculiarities of the Carpathian land demanded the installation of interpretive boards (particularly, dedicated to meadow farming, Hutsul lifestyle pattern and special aspects of Hutsul settlement construction), fragments of Hutsul housing and domestic articles of local inhabitants, and so forth.

The convenient conference hall for up to seventy people on the first floor of the visit-centre is equipped with multi-media system for conferencing, seminars and round-table discussions. Visitors are offered to watch the exclusive demonstration movie about geography, history, ethnography and touristic attraction of the Carpathian region, shot and dubbed in six languages, specifically Ukrainian, English, German, Romanian, Polish and Russian.

Basic performance data of eco-tourist visit-centre in Yaremche

Location, informational signs and unrestricted access	Viable situation close by the main road and administrative building of the Carpathian national conservation Park. Street signs guide visitors through the area. Adjacent to the visit-centre is the parking box for automobiles and buses. The centre is equipped with all sanitary conveniences and available access conditions for physically disabled.
Technical equipment	Special illumination of installations, professional guidance through excursions. Computer equipment, telephone, fax, copy machine, video and audio appliances for a mini-cinema.
Services	Interpretive: up-to-date methods of information interpretation for visitors, specifically exposition and demonstration movie. Educational: learning hall for schoolchildren and other visitors; extra attraction of the movie theatre. Informational: full scope of information and promotional materials from local tour operators, agents and coordinators of entertainment tours, versatile tourist information.
Work schedule	Workdays of the week: 8.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Weekends - negotiable.
Personnel	Personnel is well informed concerning main local attractions, options of renting assignments, touristic infrastructure and services.
Address	Ivano-Frankivsk region, city of Yaremche, Stusa street, 6a.
Contacts	Telephone: +38 (03434) 21155, cell phone +38 (067) 907 64 32, +38 (066) 923 15 36.