Starting June 12, there will be an entrance fee to the Shatsk Lakes, but not for everyone: what will change for tourists

Starting June 12, an entrance fee will be introduced for the Shatsk Lakes National Park; however, some visitors will be eligible for exemptions. Find out how the new eco-checkpoint will operate, how much the entrance fee will cost, and who will be exempt from the restrictions. Find out how this will affect your vacation at Lake Svityaz this summer

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Starting June 12, the “Venske” environmental checkpoint, located on the road between the village of Polozheve and Shatsk, is scheduled to resume operations within the Shatsk National Nature Park. This change means that entry into the popular tourist region—specifically to Lake Svityaz and the surrounding bodies of water—will once again be subject to a fee for some visitors.

How the paid entry to the Shatsk Lakes will work

At the “Venske” environmental checkpoint, they plan to charge a fee for vehicles entering the nature reserve. This decision is part of a system to regulate tourist traffic at one of Ukraine’s most popular natural resorts.

It is expected that the funds will be allocated to:

garbage removal,

landscaping,

environmental protection measures,

and maintenance of the park’s infrastructure.

Payment will be confirmed by a fiscal receipt.

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How much will entry cost

The cost will depend on the type of vehicle:

50 UAH — motorcycles

100 UAH — passenger cars and minibuses

150 UAH — buses and trucks

Thus, the greatest burden will fall on organized tourist groups and commercial vehicles.

Who will be able to enter for free

An important part of the new policy is the list of categories of citizens exempt from payment.

Free entry is provided for:

residents of the Shatsk community

combatants and individuals with ATO status

people with disabilities resulting from war or work-related injuries

victims of the Chernobyl disaster

children under 16

people who have moved to the community for permanent residence

people born within the Shatsk community

owners of special-purpose vehicles

Thus, the system distinguishes between local residents and socially vulnerable groups and tourists visiting for leisure.

Although the checkpoint is scheduled to begin operations on June 12, the final date is not set in stone. The administration warns that it may be postponed due to weather conditions or the security situation at the border with Belarus.

Tourist Season: No Official Opening

As noted by the Shatsk community, there are no plans for an official opening of the tourist season this year. At the same time, the first vacationers have already begun arriving at the lakes, particularly Lake Svityaz, even before the peak season.

The largest influx of tourists is traditionally expected in late June and July.

Preparations for the summer in the region began back in the spring. According to representatives of local authorities and Shatsk National Nature Park, the work included:

signing contracts for the maintenance of the territories

preparing the beaches

laboratory water quality testing

planning new ecological trails

In particular, the opening of an ecological trail in the village of Pulmo and the Mukoshyn tract is being considered.

The safety of vacationers will be ensured by the National Police, the Water Police, and units of the National Guard. During peak periods, additional forces are planned to be deployed.

Infrastructure remains one of the key challenges of the season. Despite plans, the project to install permanent restrooms along the Svitiaz beach area has been postponed until next year. Therefore, tourists will again have to use portable restrooms this season.

The Shatsk National Nature Park emphasizes that the introduction of an entrance fee is not only a financial issue but also a tool for controlling the load on the ecosystem.

The lakes of the Shatsk region, including Svitiaz—Ukraine’s largest natural lake—welcome tens of thousands of tourists every year. This places significant pressure on water quality, the condition of the shoreline, and the waste disposal system. The revenue from entrance fees is intended to partially offset this impact.

What this means for tourists

For vacationers, the new rules mean:

additional costs for entry by car

clear exemptions for locals and certain categories of citizens

more formalized control over access to the park’s territory

At the same time, the region itself remains open for recreation, and the territory’s nature conservation status is only being strengthened.