Subprogram "FIVE HUNDRED": for a good rest

Although our northern region of the republic is not too spoiled by the scorching sun, it can also become a tourist mecca thanks to its natural advantages. The main thing is to create the proper infrastructure, develop unique tourism brands, competently use available resources, and skillfully present the potential. And then we can talk about developed domestic and inbound tourism.

The subprogram "Five Hundred" of the Regional Program for Innovative and Investment Development of the Vitebsk Region for 2011-2015 is aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the region for both the local population and guests. This was told to a VR correspondent by Svetlana ASTANINA, chief specialist of the Department of Tourism and Health Improvement of the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the regional executive committee.

– Agritourism, one might say, is a rather young direction in the domestic market. How is it developing in our region and is it successful?

– The dynamics of visitors speak of the growing popularity of this type of service. If in 2011, 359 agritourism entities concluded 4062 contracts and received 19592 tourists, then in 2012, 422 entities concluded 5406 contracts and received 23360 people. The inflow over the entire period has increased by almost 5 thousand.

Notably, not only our compatriots and close neighbors come to the villages of the region for recreation, but also guests from far abroad – for example, from Italy, Estonia, France, England, Germany, Israel, Finland, and even the USA. The demand for services is also evidenced by the fact that the average length of stay of a tourist at an estate is increasing – from 1-2 days to 3-4 days.

We also encourage agricultural organizations to open agro-ecotourism estates on their premises, as it is significantly easier for them than for individuals starting a business practically from scratch. There are 13 such estates in our region, and this is, by the way, the best indicator in the republic (for comparison, there are only 6 in the Minsk region). For example, last year, "Malinki-Outfitters" (a peasant farm) was registered in the Vitebsk district; here, guests are offered various game and fish dishes from the chef, active recreation, including fishing, hunting, and gathering berries and mushrooms.

In general, agro-ecotourism is good because it can satisfy any client's wishes. Some come to the countryside to enjoy the quiet, while others are interested in active recreation (cycling, water, hiking, and other routes, hunting, fishing, etc.), and others are fascinated by the cultural heritage of the region and local historical attractions. For example, "Krolova Khata" in Rossony is an ordinary village house where you can immerse yourself in the simple life of our ancestors, eating potatoes from a cast-iron pot with a wooden spoon, cooked in a Russian stove. And surprisingly, Germans have been coming here for this unique experience for several years now. And, for instance, the owner of the "Zhivitsa" estate in Glubokoye has started breeding horses and will soon offer tourists the opportunity to practice horseback riding.

Of course, it is easier for agro-ecotourism to develop where favorable conditions exist: well-equipped beaches on lakes and rivers, nature reserves, notable cultural and historical sites, developed infrastructure, and so on. For example, the Braslavsky, Gluboksky, Lepelsky, Miorsky, and Polotsky districts fulfilled their five-year target for creating agro-ecotourism estates within just two years, significantly ahead of schedule. In total, 154 estates have been opened in the region during the "Five Hundred" program.

– The presence of nearby bodies of water is an important, but not the only, component of an agro-ecotourism estate's popularity. Such tourist facilities can be located in the most remote corners of the Pridvinye region, and for a client to reach them, informational support is crucial…

– Indeed. And we are working on it. Given that many tourists, especially from abroad, get information from the internet, we will soon launch an updated website for the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Regional Executive Committee. It will feature not only a list of agro-ecotourism estates in the Dvina region with their locations and hosts' contacts, but also detailed information on living conditions. After all, today's consumer wants to know exactly what they can expect. In addition, at one time, the Public Council for the Development of Agrotourism in the Vitebsk Region was established. Recently, a similar structure appeared under the Miory District Executive Committee. In the near future, it is planned to establish close cooperation with representatives of agrotourism from the Smolensk region in order to share experiences with each other and adopt progressive developments that will help improve in this area.
– What about hunting lodges?

— The region has 61 hunting grounds of various forms of ownership, including 15 forestry hunting grounds, 19 grounds of the RGOO "BOOR", 2 grounds of the Presidential Affairs Department, 2 grounds of the Military Hunting Society, and 23 private grounds. Currently, 141 hunting lodges are operating in the region.

It is important that tenants invest funds in the further development of hunting grounds: to provide enclosures with animals, observation towers, feeding niches, and so on. After all, the created decent conditions for hunting and recreation are attractive, including for foreign tourists. For example, foreigners particularly liked certain hunting grounds in Ushachi, Polotsk, Rossony, Verkhnedvinsk, Orsha, Dubrovno, and Gorodok districts.

As a rule, hunters are among the visitors. But during the New Year holidays, ordinary guests who simply want to relax in the "wild nature" also show increased interest. Sometimes, even hunting estates cannot accommodate all those who wish. This is despite the fact that, with the introduction of new hunting lodges, over the two years of the operation of the Pridvinye subprogram, the targets set for the five-year period are being overfulfilled. Thus, 51 facilities have been commissioned over the past two years, against a target of 47. The construction of another 12 lodges is planned for 2013.

"Trucks and lorries, as well as ordinary cars with foreign license plates, 'travel' through our region. And it is important to create conditions for such 'transit passengers' as well, so that the long journey is not tiring..."

"Vitebshchina is fulfilling and overfulfilling the task of constructing and reconstructing roadside service facilities; over two years, 55 facilities have been opened instead of 42. In turn, the construction of 15 facilities is planned for 2013. Among them are a catering facility on the Polotsk–Miory–Braslav highway, a cafe and a gas station on the Vitebsk—Minsk highway, and two car washes on the Vitebsk – Polotsk – Lithuanian Republic border road. By the way, the construction of a gas station to service the future Southwest bypass of the regional center is planned for next year."

"The weather has warmed up, and people are starting to go outdoors. What improved recreation areas will appear in Pridvinye this season?"

"In general, in the current year, it is planned to improve and create 42 recreation areas on rivers and lakes in the region. In total, over 5 years, it is planned to commission 200 units, of which 119 have already received their first visitors during the two years of the subprogram's operation. It is especially gratifying to note that some districts have coped with the five-year target. However, this work will not stop; ongoing repairs will continue, recreation areas will be improved, and new places will be created."

"And what about the residents of the regional center? After all, in a large city, it is especially desirable to have such corners where one can escape from the noise of the central streets."

– Vitebsk residents will have such an opportunity. By the way, as of today, 5 recreation areas have already been equipped in the northern capital, which were planned under the subprogram for 2011-2013. A plan of measures for the current and subsequent years has been determined. Landscaped corners of nature with gazebos and benches will appear in the Luchosa, Tulovo, Luzhesno districts.

New recreation areas will also adorn the young microdistricts – Medtsentr, Bilevo, Sokolniki. The banks of the Polonskoye, Grodno lakes and the Dobreika River will be improved. All this time, current work – installation of trash cans, sand filling, painting of benches – is constantly carried out by the relevant services in all recreation areas of Pridvinye.

Natalia RYSHKOVA. "Vitebsky Rabochy"