MINSK, 20 August (BelTA) - More than 31,000 tourists have visited the Braslav Lakes National Park during the current period of 2025, Nadezhda Dudarenok, Acting Deputy Director General for Ideology and Head of the Tourism Department of the state nature conservation institution Braslav Lakes National Park, said on the sidelines of the 3rd international specialized exhibition Ecology Expo, BelTA has learned.
“The result of thorough development and implementation of products and services in ecotourism is significant interest from tourists and guests of our region. Over the past period of 2025, more than 31,000 people have visited the facilities in the specially protected natural areas of the Braslav Lakes National Park,” Nadezhda Dudarenok said.
According to her, visitors made use of accommodation services at recreation centers, tourist campsites, sports and tourism equipment rentals, individual corporate tours, and visited observation towers on Mayak Mountain and animal enclosures. They also participated in hiking and water excursions.
According to Nadezhda Dudarenok, the Mayak Mountain ecological trail with its eponymous observation tower has already been visited by over 16,000 people between January and July 2025.
“The result of thorough development and implementation of products and services in ecotourism is significant interest from tourists and guests of our region. Over the past period of 2025, more than 31,000 people have visited the facilities in the specially protected natural areas of the Braslav Lakes National Park,” Nadezhda Dudarenok said.
According to her, visitors made use of accommodation services at recreation centers, tourist campsites, sports and tourism equipment rentals, individual corporate tours, and visited observation towers on Mayak Mountain and animal enclosures. They also participated in hiking and water excursions.
According to Nadezhda Dudarenok, the Mayak Mountain ecological trail with its eponymous observation tower has already been visited by over 16,000 people between January and July 2025.
“During the summer season, the network of tourist campsites is in high demand. It requires special attention and maintenance of infrastructure. A tourist campsite includes a gazebo, an equipped fire pit, lake access, waste bins, and toilets. Information on the importance of environmental conservation, the inadmissibility of using chemical detergents in the lakes, and the rules of stay is always posted there. In May-July 2025, approximately 13,000 people spent vacations at these campsites,” the head of the tourism department said.
The National Tourism Agency offers certification for guides and interpreter guides specializing in ecological tourism, stated Yekaterina Goncharenok, deputy director - Head of Tourism Planning and Tourism at the Tourism Department of with the Sport and Tourism Ministry. As of 2024, 31 specialists were trained and qualified to conduct such tours.
Kirill Stezhkin, manager of the project to develop ecotourism to promote green transition towards inclusive and sustainable growth, stated that the project is being implemented by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry of Belarus in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with financial support from Russia. The pilot sites for the project include the nature reserves Naliboki, Krasny Bor, Ozery and Osveya.
Among the key objectives of the project were raising awareness and promoting education in the field of ecotourism, developing the necessary methodological framework, and strengthening the infrastructure of the pilot sites.
“Over 3,000 people have enhanced their knowledge and competencies in ecotourism, five certified guides have been trained, and four ecotourism clusters have been established around the pilot nature reserves, uniting local communities, businesses, and cultural institutions. Two national standards have also been introduced for the certification of ecotourism products and for a unified visual identity across all specially protected natural areas. Infrastructure has significantly improved. New eco-trails, visitor centers, modern equipment, glamping sites have been set up and water and railway-based ecological tourism has gained momentum. Twelve new jobs have been created in rural communities. Virtual tours are actively developing, and an interactive map and a range of new tourism products have been created. Four young ecologist clubs were established, which is particularly important for nurturing future protectors of nature," Kirill Stezhkin said highlighting the results.
He noted that, compared to 2021, the number of tourists in the pilot areas of the nature reserves has increased by more than 1,5 times.
The 3rd Ecology Expo, held under the motto "Green Innovations for a Sustainable Future”, kicked off in Minsk on 19 August and will be running for three days. The expo is set to host representatives of government bodies, ministries, and agencies from the CIS and other countries, Belarusian and foreign companies, international organizations, and scientists. They will discuss key issues in green economy development, exchange best practices, and showcase achievements in the field of environmental protection.
Follow us on:
