Belarus Intends to Develop Medical, Historical Tourism and Agrotourism

It’s the first time Belarus invited Russian pressmen to a press tour devoted to the development of tourism in the neighbouring country.

It’s the first time Belarus invited Russian pressmen to a press tour devoted to the development of tourism in the neighbouring country.

Belarusian Embassy and the National Press Center of the neighbouring country have for the first time conducted a press tour “Tourist Potential of the Union State: Belarusian Experience”.

The tour of the country was preceded by the meeting of the pressmen with the representatives of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, the National Tourism Agency and the National Union of Tourist Organizations. First Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism of Belarus Grigori Kosyachenko informed the tour participants about the development of tourism in Belarus of late years.

Thus, Belarus has adopted tourism development programme for 2011-2015. Export of tourist services has increased three and a half times. BR411 billion has been allocated from the country’s budget for tourism development. Over the last two years 565 new infrastructure facilities have been put into operation: among them 16 hotels, 17 recreation areas and 12 tourist complexes. By 2014 another 14 hotels are to be opened and 64 sites for hotel building to be prepared. 26 new tourist attractions have been inaugurated; among them the unique Augustow Canal and UNESCO heritage site Mir Castle (restoration of Niasvizh Castle, as one more item on the World Heritage list, is being continued).

The number of tourists coming to Belarus has also increased – from 303 thousand in 2009 to 4.5 million in 2010. The number of tourist groups has increased by 25.8%. The majority of tourists coming to Belarus are Russians – 704 thousand (among them 171 thousand spent their holidays at health resorts). Recently 3 Tourist Information Centers have been launched outside the country. The National Tourism Agency published a number of colourful and detailed tourist guide-books of the country.

According to Belarusian tourism leaders, there are three most promising directions of tourism development in Belarus. The first is medical and health resorts tourism. Many Belarusian health resorts have state-of-the-art recently upgraded medical facilities, and the prices are considerably lower compared to the same facilities in Russia.

“Having the richest nature resources and unique nature monuments our country has a great potential for the development of agrotourism”, says Mrs. Yuliya Zelenskaya, assistant director of the National Tourism Agency. Suffice it to say that there were only 34 tourist farms in 2006, however so far their number has amounted to 1247 and last year they received 120 thousand tourists from 50 countries”.

Finally, contemporary Russia has little knowledge of historical and cultural heritage of Belarus and first of all of its castles. There were times when Belarus had 200 castles on its territory, now the number of them has considerably lessened, many of them are half ruined and need immediate not only state but also private investor’s support – in particular, during the expected reconstruction of Novogrudok Castle, one of the most famous in the country.

Newsworthy were the historical towns shown to the press tour participants: Polotsk with the most ancient St. Sofia Cathedral and very honoured by pilgrims Saint Ephrosinia Convent; Vitebsk, the city of “Slavyanski Bazaar” that has recently renewed its numerous sacred places and neighbouring it Iliya Repin Museum-Estate; “residence” of Rumyantsevy and Paskevichi – the city of Gomel with its enormous Palace and Park Complex.

Finally, Belarusian Tourism organizers hope that the number of tourists will increase thanks to the World Hockey Championship which is to be held in Belarus in 2014.

Journal “ Turbiznes ” 06.09. 11