The number of tourists in agro-ecotourism estates in the Vitebsk region increased 1.6 times in 2010

February 18, Vitebsk / Sergei Kochetov - BELTA /. More than 13 thousand tourists visited agro-ecotourism estates in the Vitebsk region in 2010, which is 1.6 times more compared to 2009. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Daria Matskevich, chief specialist of the department of physical culture, sports and tourism of the regional executive committee. The guests at agro-ecotourism estates are mainly Belarusians, however, the number of foreign guests is increasing every year. Thus, last year, representatives of 27 countries used the services of rural estates, while the number of foreign nature lovers increased by 1.7 times compared to 2009, reaching almost 2 thousand people. The volume of services provided by agro-ecotourism entities in the Vitebsk region last year grew by 80% to Br1.8 billion. There are 320 agro-ecotourism entities operating in the region, including 311 individuals and 9 peasant farms. Vitebsk region is a constant leader among other regions of Belarus in terms of the number of rural estates, and the pioneers of this type of tourism in the republic were representatives of Lepel and Rossony districts. If in 2006 only five agro-ecotourism entities were registered in the region, then by 2008 there were 157 agro-ecotourism estates, and in 2009 their number grew to 273. Agro-ecotourism is developing most actively in Braslav district, where 117 estates have been created, as well as in Rossony (27 estates), Polotsk (25), Postavy (21), and Glubokoye (20) districts. In total, this type of activity is developing in 20 districts. As part of the advertising and information support for the region's tourism potential, the catalog of agro-ecotourism estates "Vitebsk Region Invites" was published in 2010 at the expense of the regional budget. For the further development of agro-ecotourism and the involvement of agricultural enterprises and initiative rural residents in tourism, the regional executive committee has developed the "Five Hundred" program, which provides for the creation of one hundred agro-ecotourism estates and agro-tourism complexes in the region in 2011-2015. -0-