The most hospitable, sporty, and harmonious rural estate will be chosen in the Vitebsk region

December 22, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The most hospitable, sporty, harmonious, and eco-friendly rural estate will be chosen in the Vitebsk region, BELTA was informed by the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, together with OJSC "Belagroprombank" and the Belarusian public association "Rest in the Village," is holding the competition "Best Agro-Ecotourism Estate of the Vitebsk Region 2010." The best estates will be determined in five nominations: "Preservation of Belarusian Traditions," "Healthy Lifestyle," "Hospitality," "Green Estate," and "Style and Harmony." The winners of the competition will be awarded commemorative prizes and diplomas. The official award ceremony for the winners and laureates of the competition will be held in a solemn setting in February 2011. The Vitebsk region holds one of the leading positions in the republic in terms of the number of rural estates. More than three hundred have been established in the region, which is one-third of all in the country. In 2010, 75 owners of rural estates received loans from Belagroprombank for the development of agro-ecotourism. At the expense of 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 brochures about the agro-ecotourism estates of the regions are periodically published by district executive committees. -0-