Vitebsk achieved a positive balance of tourism services for the first time in 2012
Vitebsk achieved a positive balance of tourism services for the first time in 2012, earning over $3.2 million from inbound tourism, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk City Executive Committee.
The positive balance of tourism services amounted to $2.4 million. As emphasized by the City Executive Committee, this was achieved despite growing outbound tourism rates: Vitebsk residents did not travel abroad less for holidays, but the number of visitors to the regional center increased. The reconstructed center of Vitebsk with its pedestrian streets, beautiful embankments, and a fairly developed leisure infrastructure is becoming increasingly attractive to tourists, including foreign ones.
Tourism services account for 8.2% of the total volume of services exports and are among the top five most sought-after services by foreigners. In 2012, the tourist and hotel complex "Vitebsk Hotel" increased its services export volume by 1.7 times, and "Tour Operator 'Ilva'," whose main activity is organizing inbound tourism, increased it by 2.8 times.
Overall, the growth rate of services exports for the city in the first 11 months of 2012 exceeded 130%. The largest share in services exports falls on transport services – over 40%, and construction services – over 26%. According to preliminary data, the balance of foreign trade in services for 2012 is expected to be a "minus" $15 million, while for organizations of communal ownership and without departmental subordination, it will be a "plus" $8 million.