The export of tourist services in the Vitebsk region for the first half of the year amounted to $8.4 million.

August 26, Vitebsk /Alena Tikhonova - BELTA/. The export of tourism services in the Vitebsk region for the first half of the current year amounted to $8.4 million, or 122.5% of the target, Mikhail Portnoy, Head of the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, told a BELTA correspondent.

He emphasized that based on the results of 6 months, the positive balance of tourism services amounted to $7.7 million. The region was able to achieve these results thanks to the improvement of the management system and state regulation of the tourism sector, personnel and educational-methodological support of the tourism industry for the formation of a tour operator network and the creation of a positive image of the national tourist product.

422 tourist information routes have been developed in the region, including 163 ecological routes, and 59 ecological trails are in operation. In terms of the number of operating routes, the Vitebsk region ranks second among the regions of the republic. Of the 20 international technical assistance projects approved by the Council of Ministers, 13 are being implemented in the Vitebsk region, with a total funding of 5 million euros.

Mikhail Portnoy noted that the Vitebsk region is the only region in the country where tourist information centers operate in all cities and districts (based on departments of education, sports and tourism of city and district executive committees - 10, physical culture and sports centers - 2, health and fitness clubs - 9, and tourist organizations - 2).

From 2011 to the present, 63 roadside service facilities and 57 hunting lodges have been put into operation in the region, 155 recreation areas have been improved on the rivers and lakes of the region, and 164 agro-ecotourism estates have been created. Br325.4 billion has been spent on the implementation of these measures. Currently, work is underway on 19 roadside service facilities, 19 hunting lodges, and 12 recreation areas.

93 organizations provide tourist and excursion services, and 203 certified guides conduct excursion tours around the republic and the regions of the area – this is the second indicator in the republic after the city of Minsk.-0-