DEVELOPMENT OF WATER TOURISM IN THE LVIV OBLAST TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERNATIONAL SCALE OF RIVER DIFFICULTY (ISRD)

Abstract

This article addresses the critical need for a standardized framework for water tourism development in Ukraine's Lviv region, an area with significant but underdeveloped potential. The core problem hindering the sector's growth is the absence of a unified system for classifying river difficulty, which leads to systemic safety risks, marketing inefficiencies, and chaotic market growth. The current practice of using informal, subjective assessments misinforms tourists about route complexity and prevents effective positioning of tourism products for diverse audiences. The research employs a case study methodology, analyzing the market through Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) and Stakeholder Theory. These frameworks reveal a fragmented, institutionally immature market in the "involvement" stage, characterized by uncoordinated stakeholders and a lack of standards. A comprehensive hydro-morphological analysis of the region's key rivers – Opir, Stryi, Dniester, Zakhidnyi Buh, and Rata – is conducted, followed by their preliminary classification using the International Scale of River Difficulty (ISRD). The findings show a significant mismatch between marketed and actual route difficulty. A preliminary classification of river sections from Class I to Class III+ is established, and the study identifies two distinct tourism clusters: an adventure cluster in the Carpathians and a recreational one on foothill and plains rivers. Based on these findings, the article proposes a strategy to transition the market towards a sustainable and consolidated stage. Key recommendations include the official adoption of the ISRD as a regional standard, developing targeted marketing strategies, and creating diversified tourism products. The paper outlines organizational measures, such as a unified web portal with an interactive map of routes and establishing a professional "Association of Water Tourism Operators of Lviv region" to foster self-regulation. This research provides a replicable, evidence-based roadmap for regional operators to transform a fragmented market into a cohesive, safe, and competitive tourism ecosystem, applicable to other regions in Ukraine and similar post-socialist countries.