DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN UKRAINE: IDENTIFICATION OF KEY PROBLEMS AND MANAGEMENT IMPERATIVES

The article examines the development of tourist destinations in Ukraine in the context of deep socio-economic transformations and increasing security risks, and seeks balanced management solutions that are particularly urgent. The tourism sector is considered an essential factor in the restoration of territories, increasing the financial capacity of communities, and stimulating entrepreneurial activity. At the same time, its operations are accompanied by structural imbalances and environmental restrictions. The purpose of the study is to identify key problems in the development of tourist destinations systematically and to substantiate approaches to the formation of an integrated management model grounded in sustainability. The methodological basis is a comprehensive approach that combines structural and functional analysis, elements of system modeling, generalization of statistical indicators, comparative assessment of regional development parameters, and tools of strategic analysis. The use of a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods enabled the determination of the relationships among the economic outcomes of the functioning of tourist territories, the social activity of business entities, and environmental restrictions on the use of natural resources. Particular attention is paid to identifying internal and external factors that shape the environment for destination development. As a result of the study, it was found that uneven spatial dynamics, an increasing role of domestic demand, and an increased burden on the natural resource base of individual regions characterize the current stage of development of tourist areas. Imbalances between financial indicators and the level of institutional coordination were identified, as well as limited systematic monitoring of environmental parameters. The generalization of the results obtained enabled the formation of a logically structured matrix of problems and the identification of key areas for improving the strategic management of tourist destinations, taking into account the principles of economic efficiency, social inclusion, and environmental responsibility. The practical value of the article lies in the possibility of using the proposed analytical approach by public administration and local self-government bodies to develop tourism development programs, form regional strategies, and improve the efficiency of budget planning. The conclusions obtained can be applied to enhance the system for monitoring tourist flows, optimize the use of territories' resource potential, and minimize the risks of spatially uneven development.