VITEBSK, 21 November (BelTA) – Representatives of tourist information centers from Pskov Oblast, Russia and Vitebsk Oblast signed cooperation agreements and discussed areas of interaction for the coming years during the Days of Pskov Oblast in Vitebsk, BelTA has learned.
“A cooperation agreement between the two regions was signed three years ago. Today, tourist information centers have been established in every district of Vitebsk Oblast, and together with colleagues from the neighboring country they are developing joint tours and cross-border routes,” said Svetlana Astanina, head of the tourism and physical culture sector of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee’s sports and tourism department.
During a roundtable, participants discussed new directions of cross-border cooperation, including the creation of eco-friendly, historical, cultural, and educational routes. “A project may be developed with support from the Union State [of Belarus and Russia]. It could focus on youth tourism, with active and festival components added,” Svetlana Astanina stressed.
According to acting director of the Pskov Oblast Tourist Information Center Aleksandra Fedotova, cultural and educational tourism is one of Pskov’s main specializations, but the region is ready for new formats of cooperation. “We proposed to colleagues from Vitebsk Oblast to organize an information tour for tour operators and media to military-patriotic sites, create a new car route, and set up reciprocal information stands at tourist information centers,” she said.
Vitebsk Oblast maintains close cooperation with Pskov Oblast. Tourist organizations actively exchange groups. Last year, an introductory tour of Vitebsk Oblast was organized for Pskov. “Russia is our main supplier of inbound tourism services. Its share exceeds 95%,” Svetlana Astanina added.
Follow us on:
