On May 3, 2012, an international conference entitled "Tourism as a Chance for Border Area Development" was held in Kovel. Participants included the Kovel, Shatsk and Turiysk district administrations, Kovel Employment Center, tourism-based NGOs, tour operators and representatives of tourism businesses. The conference was hosted in partnership with the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University and the Polish National Chamber of Commerce.