An e-ticket for protected areas has been launched
An electronic ticketing system for protected areas is now operating in Ukraine: https://tickets.wownature.in.ua/. The first to join the system were national nature parks and nature reserves in the Carpathian region. The new online service allows visitors to purchase admission tickets in advance, while enabling protected area administrations to keep transparent records of visits and manage recreational pressure more effectively. The system was developed at the request of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine with the support of the Frankfurt Zoological Society and in cooperation with protected area institutions.
“For effective nature conservation, national parks need to be financially sustainable. One important step towards this is ensuring transparent accounting of revenue from recreational activities and making admission payments convenient for visitors. That is why we supported the creation of this system,” emphasized Khrystyna Mysak, Head of Communications and Tourism at the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Ukraine.
How does the e-ticket help protected area institutions, nature, and travellers?
- Visitor statistics: When national parks know how many people visit their trails, which routes are the most popular, and when they are most heavily used, they can plan recreational activities more effectively and reduce pressure on vulnerable areas.
- Data-driven decision-making rather than assumptions: Statistics help identify where more navigation signs are needed, where additional rest areas should be created, or where protection measures should be strengthened.
- Reduced pressure on nature: By analysing the data, park teams can better plan recreational activities and distribute visitor flows. This is particularly important for vulnerable mountain peaks, mountain meadows, and other popular locations.
- Increased revenue for parks: Due to the limited number of ticket offices and checkpoints, not all visitors have been able to purchase tickets. Online payment is now available from virtually any location and makes it possible to generate more funds for nature conservation.
- Transparent flow of funds: Admission fees now go directly to the parks’ accounts and are used for trail maintenance, research, and infrastructure development.
- Improved service: Visitors can purchase tickets using a QR code or in advance on the website, which is particularly relevant for large tourist groups. This also helps avoid queues at ticket offices, which are often crowded on weekends.
A ticket can be purchased online in just a few minutes using a bank card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Immediately after payment, the ticket is sent to the visitor’s email address, stored in their personal account, and contains a QR code that can simply be shown to an inspector on a smartphone screen.
“The electronic ticketing system makes it possible to see, in real time, quantitative indicators of the human impact on nature. Managers of protected areas will be able to regulate tourist flows and reduce this impact,” notes Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The first presentation of the system took place on one of the most popular routes in the Carpathian National Nature Park—to Mount Khomyak. Routes like this receive thousands of tourists every year and require modern tools to organize visitation, ensure safety, and preserve natural ecosystems.
In the future, new protected areas across Ukraine will gradually join the system, and its functionality will be expanded with additional services. For visitors, this means a single convenient way to purchase tickets regardless of the park or nature reserve they choose. For protected area institutions, it provides a modern tool for managing recreational activities, which in turn contributes to financial sustainability and more effective nature conservation.
