In 2005 the project elaborated recommendations for amending the Belarusian legislation on agro- and eco-tourism. Some of them were included in the draft Law on Specially Protected Natural Areas and the National Tourism Development Programme 2006-2010 endorsed by the Council of Ministers of Belarus. Among other outputs, the project aims to establish tourist sites with traditional folk architecture in the existing villages.
The project has compiled a list of potential and existing suppliers of agro-tourist services in the Belavezhskaya Pushcha region and developed a computer database containing information on 12 estates with descriptions of tourist sights and conveniences. Presentation and training events have been organized. The project has also developed a guidebook for suppliers of agro-tourist services, endorsed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
The program of financial support to small rural tourism businesses in the Belavezhskaya Pushcha region that was launched in late 2005 deserves special attention. In 2006 ten most interesting and innovative micro-projects – winners of the UNDP contest – received USD 1.5-2 thousand each to improve their estates.
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A practical seminar for local authorities of the Belavezhskaia Pushcha region and national mass media representatives titled “Rural Tourism – New Opportunities for Regional Development” was held in May 2005 in Bialowieza (Poland) as part of the Belavezhskaia Pushcha project. The participants of the event learned the best practices for cooperation between public institutions and local agrotourism service-providers, visited a number of successful agrotourism households in Poland and discussed key problems to be solved by regional and local bodies to support agrotourism development in Belarus.
As a result of the meeting, new participants
among potential local agrotourism service-providers became involved in the
project activities through the assistance provided by the local administrations.
Among the newcomers are the owners of the households “Mellow Chime” (Mr. Stepan
Oblamskij), “Svischevo” (Mr. Vassilij Torchilo), “Pushchanskaia” (Ms. Alla
Pozharitskaia) and others. In addition, the seminar has prompted the local
authorities to start the improvement of the surroundings of the Sapegas Palace
in Ruzhany (Pruzhany rayon), as a means to ensure conservation of existing
historical heritage. |
