Polotsk district recognized as the first in the Competition for the best cross-border cooperation project

In 2013, the Congress of the Eastern Partnership Initiatives summed up the results of the International Competition for the Best Cross-Border Cooperation Project.

As reported by the international organizers, the main goal of the Competition is to develop cross-border cooperation, share experience and models of effective practices in the field of project initiatives implemented in Eastern Europe.

The official award ceremony took place on October 2nd of the current year in Lublin (Poland).

In a solemn atmosphere, winners were announced in seven nominations: good governance, civil society, culture, tourism, education, corporate social responsibility, social innovation.

A real success awaited the Belarusian representatives – Polotsk district was recognized as the best in the "Tourism" nomination.

This category covered projects implemented over the last 3 years, a significant element of which was the development of tourism. Seven contenders from different Eastern European countries applied for participation and victory.

In turn, the international technical assistance project "Bella Dvina – traveling across borders, discovering culture, enjoying the nature of the Western Dvina/Daugava region" was recognized as the best. Its main focus was the creation of a cross-border tourist space along the Western Dvina/Daugava River between the cities of Daugavpils, Polotsk, and Vitebsk (implementation period – 2008-2010).

"The winning projects will be presented at the Congress of the Eastern Partnership Initiatives, which will provide an opportunity to exchange best practices and models of good practice in the implementation of partnership projects with stakeholders from Eastern Partnership countries. A detailed description of the awarded projects will also be published in the Congress's advertising and information catalog," noted the Mayor of Lublin, Krzysztof Żuk, while presenting diplomas and certificates of the Competition to the participants.

A successful continuation of the international technical assistance project "Bella Dvina – Traveling Across Borders, Discovering Culture, Enjoying Nature of the Western Dvina/Daugava Region" is currently underway in the Polotsk region and the entire Vitebsk region, namely the international technical assistance project "Strengthening the Potential of Tourism Development in the Latgale-Utena-Vitebsk Border Region" (Bella Dvina 2 project).

As reported by the Polotsk District Executive Committee, by the end of October 2013, within the framework of the international technical assistance project "Bella Dvina 2," qualitative improvement of the district's tourism infrastructure has been defined – arrangement of a recreation area, installation of 3 tourist information signs, 12 tourist direction signs, and 24 information plates at the main attractions of Polotsk city.