Almost a dozen and a half agro-estates are vying for the title of the most hospitable and stylish in the Vitebsk region

January 25, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Almost fifteen applications have been submitted for participation in the regional competition "Best Agro-Ecotourism Estate of the Vitebsk Region 2010", the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, together with OJSC "Belagroprombank" and the Belarusian public association "Rest in the Village", became the organizers of the competition. The best estates will be determined in five nominations: "Preservation of Belarusian Traditions"; "Healthy Lifestyle"; "Hospitality"; "Green Estate"; "Style and Harmony". In addition to descriptive materials, electronic presentations and advertising brochures, the nominees also submitted documents confirming the quantitative indicators of their work. Throughout February, the competition jury members will visit all the candidate estates. The winners of the competition will be awarded commemorative prizes and diplomas. The owners of the main prizes will represent the region at the republican competition. The Vitebsk region ranks among the leading places in the republic in terms of the number of rural estates. More than 300 of them have been created in the region, which is one third of the total in the country. In 2010, 75 owners of rural estates received loans from OJSC "Belagroprombank" for the development of agro-ecotourism. With funds from the regional budget, 53 representatives of agro-ecotourism entities completed advanced training courses at the Belarusian State University of Culture. To popularize the opportunities of agro-ecotourism, a catalog of Vitebsk rural estates has been prepared, and district executive committees periodically publish brochures about the agro-ecotourism estates of the regions. -0-