Polotsk attracts tourists through international projects and other innovations in the tourism business

The implementation of international technical assistance projects allows for the unification of the cultural space of Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia. There is no doubt that Polotsk is a tourist brand of the Vitebsk region. Annually, the ancient city of Belarus is visited by many residents of our country, as well as guests from near and far abroad.

The implementation of international technical assistance projects allows for the unification of the cultural space of Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia.

A center where you will always be helped

There is no doubt that Polotsk is a tourist brand of the Vitebsk region. Annually, the ancient city of Belarus is visited by many residents of our country, as well as guests from near and far abroad. Five years ago, in order to help visitors navigate routes and offered services, within the framework of the projects "Bela Dvina" and "Assistance to Tourism Development in the Border Regions of Latgale, Utena and Vitebsk" ("Bela Dvina 2") with the support of EU funds, the Polotsk Tourist Information Center was established.

 

— Today, any tourist, Belarusian or foreign, can come here and get information about the city and the region, the Vitebsk region, and Belarus as a whole, — said Igor Zagrekov, a researcher at the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve. — The tourist center has maps and brochures, information about routes and attractions. We have something to offer in a variety of areas, whether it's ecological, religious, or agritourism.

If visitors are primarily interested in Polotsk, then a methodologist-instructor helps to develop a travel route within the settlement. To prevent guests from getting lost on unfamiliar streets, a system of tourist directional signs has been created in the city in accordance with the Implementation Plan of the international technical assistance project "Bella Dvina 2" . These signs guide tourists to museums and famous monuments.

Taste the Country

The recent developments in international cooperation in the tourism sector allow both Polotsk and the entire Vitebsk region to popularize their services and learn more about the opportunities offered by neighboring regions. While previously cooperation primarily focused on health tourism, it has gradually been reaching a new level.

For instance, in 2013-2014, the project "Improving Culinary Services in the Latgale and Vitebsk Regions Based on the Culinary Heritage Concept" ("Bella Cuisine") was implemented. The outcome was the development of a six-day route that not only offers an opportunity to appreciate the attractions of the border territories but also, so to speak, to taste the country. Now, gourmets can discover what the Polotsk, Verkhnedvinsk, Lepel, Glubokoye, and Miory districts, as well as four regions of Latvia's Latgale, have to offer. In addition to agro-tourism estates, hotel complexes, cafes, recreation centers, and peasant farms, the route includes craft centers, a bread museum, national cuisine clubs, and producers of various edible products.

Tourism Marketing

Another international project, "Museum Gates", is also aimed at developing cross-border tourism, involving Polotsk in its orbit. Within the framework of this initiative, meetings were held between museum workers from Polotsk, the city of Utena (Lithuania), and the Latgale region of Latvia.

An important part of the project, emphasized Tatyana Yavich, Deputy Director of the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, was the holding of seminars. Those organized in Lithuania were dedicated to developing the creative thinking of museum employees. Colleagues from Latvia chose the topic of tourism product marketing, considering the levers that can be used to promote such services. And Polotsk residents organized training sessions to improve the professional level of tour guides.

Within the project, the issue of improving museum infrastructure was also addressed, including through the use of modern technical means in work. International assistance was used to purchase computer equipment for researchers and presentation technology. Two video projectors are located in the Children's and Local History Museums.

The National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve also received 20 audio guides, which tourists can use in the Museum of the History of Architecture of the St. Sophia Cathedral. In addition, five information kiosks have been installed in Polotsk. Employees of the scientific information department have prepared and uploaded materials concerning all institutions of the reserve in Russian and Belarusian languages. According to Tatyana Yavich, work is currently underway to translate them into English so that more visitors can use them.

— Another goal of the project is the development of a unified cross-border museum route. It will include museums in Utena, Latgale, and Polotsk, — explained Tatyana Vladimirovna. — To advertise this route and cover it, a publication in six languages has been prepared for printing: Russian, Belarusian, English, Latvian, Lithuanian, and German. It will be released in April. Also, in order to attract tourists and simplify museum visits in the three countries, it is planned to issue special unified entrance tickets in a limited edition. They will grant the right to visit all partner museums of the project — both in Polotsk and abroad. A regulation is currently being developed to determine who can become the owner of such a ticket.

In addition, plans include a promotional tour for tour operators. It is scheduled to take place in May of this year. Ultimately, the implementation of the project "Museum Gates" should lead to the convergence of border regions, close cooperation in the field of tourism, and the creation of a unified cultural space.

Liliya Ivchenko, "Vitebskiye Vesti"