Tourist Mecca of Vitebsk Region
To convey the beauty of the Braslav region, one must be a poet or a musician, able to express the feelings that a person typically experiences when encountering the nature of Braslavshchyna through the power of poetic language and heartfelt melody. Belarus is rich in beautiful places, but the lake region holds a special place among them. The blue expanse of water bodies, along whose shores picturesque settlements are scattered, bright pine forests, chains of hills, blooming meadows, clean air filled with the aromas of flowers and herbs – all this is Braslavshchyna. Those who have not vacationed here do not know Belarus. And it is hard to find a person who, having visited once, would not wish to return.
European Comfort at Belarusian Prices
What other small district, remote from the center of the republic, can boast that its population doubles during the summer period? In Braslavshchyna, statistics annually record over 35 thousand registered tourists. In the Year of Hospitality, this figure grew to 40 thousand. Throughout the summer season, 14 tourist businesses hosted guests, accommodating about 800 people simultaneously. And to these, one should add those vacationing in agro-tourism estates and "wild campers" – those who stay in the private sector or set up tents.
In the height of summer, when there were many visitors on the streets of Braslav, I, a local resident, witnessed a conversation that was pleasant for me. Young people were taking pictures on a "musical" bench near the art school and explaining to a newcomer in the group:
“
"It takes a lot of money for a vacation abroad. So we go to Braslav region, spend less and have a great time. We take a lot of photos, thankfully there are plenty of beautiful places and landscapes here. Looking at the pictures, our friends have no doubt that we were vacationing abroad. And we don't try to convince them."However, there is some truth to these words. European comfort is offered by the National Park
"Braslav Lakes" at most of the tourist bases, which can accommodate up to 140 people at a time: swimming, boating on the lakes in catamarans, cycling around the surroundings, playing sports on special grounds... For those who love steam, a bathhouse will be heated, if you want shashlik right from the grill, or ear soup from a campfire - please. By the current season, about 4 billion rubles have been invested in the further expansion of the recreation infrastructure. Beaches and coastal areas have been improved, catering facilities have been reconstructed, children's and sports grounds have been equipped, and mountain bikes and electric vehicles have been purchased.A vacation at these bases is not a cheap pleasure, but it's impossible to find a voucher in season without a thorough search. As one Minsk resident wrote on the website
"Vacation in Braslav region" : "It's easier to rent a house in Cyprus than in Braslav region".This applies not only to the well-equipped bases of the national park. The oldest tourist and health enterprise in the republic,
"Braslav Lakes", is also in demand. However, there is only one building and a few cottages for accommodation here.About 3,000 people vacationed at the national park's bases during the season, and almost 4,000 at
"Braslav Lakes".Holidays in this picturesque region are becoming increasingly popular among foreigners. As noted by Yulia Pavlovskaya, head of the national park's tourism department, and Yevgeny Selitsky, director of
"Braslav Lakes", their share is increasing year by year and has now reached 35-45% of the total number of tourists received. These are mainly Russians who have fallen in love with the Braslav region for its pristine nature and beautiful landscapes.Such interest can also be explained by other reasons: the situation in Ukraine, natural and civil cataclysms in other countries of the world. In addition, residents of St. Petersburg are returning to the Braslav region. In the 1960s-1970s, the lake region was a traditional summer holiday destination for the then Leningrad residents. Many spent their holidays here with their families, and grandparents stayed with their grandchildren for the entire vacation period.
And today, Russians and residents of other countries are discovering the lake region.
Tourism as a business
Braslav residents realized that holidays could become a source of income 10-15 years ago. Plots of land on the lake shores were acquired, bought and resold. At the same time, the sphere of tourist services gradually developed. Private tourist complexes with high-quality service appeared. This summer, the village of
"Green Club" on the shore of Lake Strusto was particularly popular with Russians. Its owners have equipped the territory in a European style, offered a wide selection of excursions, and opened a cafe. As a result, Green Club holds a leading position in the export of services among private tourist enterprises.In terms of agro-tourism estates, Braslav region is the first in the oblast. This year, agro-tourism services are provided by over 200 estates with varying levels of comfort. You can choose a rural house or a cottage with hot water and air conditioning. However, in the peak season, it is difficult to find accommodation for less than $10 per person per day.
Those who come to the Braslav region to completely forget about the city bustle prefer to stay in close proximity to nature. For this purpose, the national park has equipped 28 campsites in beautiful locations. 12,000 Belarusians and guests of our country vacationed this summer at the national park's tourist sites, along with thousands of amateur fishermen who purchased nearly 26,000 permits in January-September, and about two thousand hunters who prefer the game-rich forests of Braslav.
Impressive Results
The holiday season in Belarus is short: mid-May to mid-September. How was it in the Braslav region? Successful, according to tourism business operators. In the Year of Hospitality, everyone took care to improve accommodation, dining, and leisure activities for vacationers. As a result, 90% of surveyed tourists were satisfied. Profit was generated, and funds are available for further development. The indicator for tourism export services was successfully met. Official statistics state that from January to July, services worth $447,000 were provided, which is $23,500 more than in the same period last year.
Not only visitors benefited, but also local residents. Well-maintained beaches, boat stations, sports and tourist equipment rental points, inflatable attractions, cafes, parking lots, and a new supermarket
"Evroopt". Braslav itself has also improved: clean streets, abundant flowers, and new relaxation areas.The off-season and winter are ahead
How to make this period attractive for tourists? This is what local authorities, the national park administration, tourist bases, and agro-tourism estates are currently concerned about. Ice fishing competitions and hunting tours alone will not fill the bases. Taking into account the climatic conditions, tourism infrastructure in the Braslav region requires further improvement and development at the national level.
Tamara Pashkevich, "Vitebskiye vesti"