Travelers and pilgrims in the Principality of Polotsk and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.As is known from historical sources, even in antiquity, our distant ancestors traveled to other countries. Detachments of the Krivichi as part of the squads of the Kiev princes went to Constantinople, that is, to the Byzantine Empire, which was reflected in the annals. Abbess Efrosinya of Polotsk visited Jerusalem, describing this journey, some facts of which were used in the divine service. May, 23rd
1167 Euphrosyne died and her body was buried in Jerusalem. However, when Jerusalem was captured by Sultan Saladin on October 2, 1187, the relics of the Holy Abbess of Polotsk were transferred by Russian monks to Kiev and placed in the Near Caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where they stayed until October 1910. Then they were solemnly transferred to the Spaso-Euphrosyne of Polotsk. monastery. Efrosinya Polotskaya is the first Belarusian woman who was canonized by the Orthodox Church. N.K. Radzivil (Orphan) (1549-1616) - statesman and military leader of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, philanthropist, writer, traveler - in 1583 made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, visited Crete, Cyprus, Syria, Palestine, Egypt. N. Radzivil spent two weeks in Jerusalem and made generous donations to the city. To the Holy Sepulcher, he presented a goblet and a patina of gold (a gold ribbon), on which the coat of arms and the name of the prince were engraved. In Bethlehem, where Christ was born, the prince decided to annually allocate 125 ducats from his income: 100 for the needs of the Bernardine monastery in Jerusalem and 25 for the lamp to be lit at the Holy Sepulcher all the time. Visitors testify that the lamp burns today as a reminder of the generous prince.

The fact that both foreigners and subjects of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania traveled across the Belarusian lands is evidenced by separate articles of the Code of Laws of Casimir IV (1468), which protected the rights of foreign citizens, travelers and merchants.

The legal protection of travelers on the lands of the state was enshrined in the main law - the Charter of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1566).

There is no doubt that in subsequent years there were also pilgrimages, campaigns, travels of residents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to various countries, although written sources describing these events have not been preserved or found.

The development of tourism in the Belarusian lands during the period of their inclusion in the Russian Empire. Tourism as a collective phenomenon begins to emerge on the territory of Belarus in the 19th century, and this is due to the massive appearance of such a means of transportation as a bicycle.

The first bicycle in Belarus appeared in Vitebsk in the 70s. XIX century, and in 1894
70 Belarusian cyclists were members of the Russian Cyclists-Tourists Society, which had branches in six major Belarusian cities. In 1894 in Vitebsk, and in 1896 in Minsk, the first cycling competitions were held, contributing to the popularity of bike rides.

The Belarusian branches of the Russian Society of Cyclists-Tourists carried out long-distance tourist trips, which were of great importance for the study of their native land and testified to the expansion of the geography of trips.

Thus, a group of cyclists-tourists in 1894 made a bike ride along the routes: Brest - Kobrin - Verkholesye - Brest (130 miles long) and Brest - Staraya Zhabovka - Kamenets - Litovsk - Chernivtsi - Brest (132 miles long). The surviving description of the routes testifies to a wide range of issues studied by tourist cyclists on the way.

At the beginning of the XX century. public education authorities began to pay attention to active teaching methods, the connection between theory and practice. In May 1916, a congress on extracurricular education was held in Mogilev, at which a decision was made obliging educational institutions to widely use military gymnastic exercises, excursions and hikes in extracurricular activities.

Nevertheless, excursions and tourism did not become widespread in the conditions of tsarist Russia. The outbreak of the First World War and the occupation of a large territory of Belarus stopped this process altogether.

Development of tourism in the BSSR. After the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks began to create their own system of physical education, sports and tourism.
In 1923, following the example of the RSFSR, the Supreme Council of Physical Culture was created in Belarus, which headed the work on the physical education of the civilian population.
By the beginning of 1924, provincial and district councils of physical culture were created, and at the same time the old de-revolutionary societies and clubs were dissolved. Since 1925, the training of physical education instructors began, mastering the methodology of conducting hikes and excursions, and since 1928, with the opening of a technical school of physical education in Minsk, they began to systematically train qualified specialists in various sports, including tourism.

In 1931, on the initiative of the Komsomol, a physical culture complex "Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR" was introduced, and in 1934 - "Be Ready for Labor and Defense" for young people. These complexes were the basis for the work of all physical culture organizations. These complexes provided (along with the standards for various sports) the conduct of campaigns as a prerequisite for obtaining the badges of the TRP and BSTO.

According to the decree of the Central Committee of the CP (b) B, in January 1931 the organizing bureau of the Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions of Belarus (OPTE) was organized, as a result of which, by the end of the year, there were already about 10 thousand OPTE members in ten cities of the republic. The main routes of all-Union significance were determined: agricultural (Orsha - Zhodino - Minsk); industrial (Borisov - Rechitsa - Gomel); local history (Vitebsk - Orsha). By the end of the year, 464 people walked along the routes of industrial importance, agricultural - 215, local history - 715 people. In total, 1394 people took part in the campaigns, or
14.3% of all members of the OPTE.

Over the next year, out of 75 administrative districts of the republic in 24, OPTE organizations were formed, numbering in their ranks 30 thousand people. In terms of social composition, 45% of them were workers, 38.5% were students, 11.5% were employees, 5% were collective farmers. More than 50% of the OPTE members were members of the Communist Party.

On February 5, 1932, the 1st All-Belarusian Congress of Proletarian Tourism and Excursions was held in Minsk, which was attended by 117 delegates. However, the congress was purely propagandistic in nature and did not contribute to the revitalization of the OPTE.

Already in 1933, in the Resolution of the Secretariat of the CEC of the BSSR, the insufficient work of the OPTE was noted. The entire leadership of the Belarusian OPTE Council was replaced. However, this did not give the desired results, since the main reasons for the shortcomings were the lack of a material base, an extremely difficult financial situation.

In connection with the current circumstances, the Presidium of the Central Council of Trade Unions of Belarus on March 9, 1935 adopted a resolution “On the organization of an All-Belarusian Office in Minsk based on records for long-distance excursions”. In this regard, it was decided that the existence of the Belarusian OPTE was inexpedient. The Presidium liquidated it, transferring the management of tourist and excursion work to physical culture and trade union organizations. This reorganization pursued one goal: to improve work on tourism development, while excluding recreational tourism. It is in this connection that the question arose of creating tourist clubs.

It should be noted that during the pre-war five-year plans, tourists took an active part in promoting socialist construction, the policy of the party and government. The main tourist slogans were: "Proletarian tourism is a form of class struggle", "Proletarian tourism is the path to socialist culture", "If you want to know your country - be a tourist." In 1931. there was a hike of tourists under the slogan "For raw materials for the five-year plan", and in 1932 - "Let's create a raw material base for the machines of the second five-year plan."

However, the tasks solved by the local authorities of the OPTE were far from tourism. For example, the Orsha District Council of OPTE in 1932 held three meetings of the Presidium, at which the following issues were considered: about the sowing campaign and the participation of a tourist organization in it; sending teams to the sowing campaign; on participation in the implementation of a five-year loan, etc.

By the 30s. the first Belarusian publications on tourism also belong. In 1931, Minsk published: a brochure "Excursion to the factory", in 1932 - a manual by V.A.Samtsevich "Tours - for the sounded history of Gramadzyansky vines", "Pa Belarusian prastors" - a joint publication of the Minsk regional society of local history and schools No. 20 of Minsk. Work began on compiling an excursion guide to the BSSR.

The issues of the development of Belarusian tourism were covered in the magazines "Our Land", "Savetskaya Kraina". They described such educational tourist routes in Belarus as “Six excursions around Mogilev”, “Natural history excursions in the Smolevichi region”, “Cultural and historical excursion Borisov - Staro-Borisov - Studenka”, “Local history travels”, etc. Asveta magazines "And" Kamunistychnaya vyhavanne "published materials on children's tourism.

In 1931, in connection with the creation of the OPTE in the schools of the republic, the organization of the circles "Young friends of the society of proletarian tourism and excursions" began. The excursion bureau of the People's Commissariat for Education of the BSSR provided assistance to schoolchildren-tourists in organizing tourist and local history work (discount tickets for travel by rail, food stamps, etc.). In 1933, many Belarusian schools were actively involved in the All-Union competition for the best tourist group. In the same year, a group of pioneer tourists from Osipovichi, according to the agreement between the Belsovet OPTE and the Institute of Geology of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences, carried out tourist search work along the route Osipovichi - Lochina - Podemnoye - Novoselki - Svisloch with the selection of discovered minerals. The trip was attended by 24 pioneer tourists (13-16 years of age) under the guidance of a teacher of natural history and chemistry A. Nemtsov. As a result, more than 20 deposits of minerals were discovered, mainly of construction materials.

In 1936, the first tourist and excursion base was opened in Minsk, designed to serve 1100 schoolchildren per season. To help the leaders of tourist groups in Moscow, a "Handbook for Heads of Young Friends of OPTE" was published.

During the pre-war five-year plans, tourism and excursion business developed in Belarus, although to a lesser extent than in other regions of the Soviet Union. However, due to the ideological orientation, strong party tutelage and over-organization, frequent restructuring, the tourist movement did not gain a wide scope. According to the party leadership of the republic, pre-war Belarus was considered unpromising for the development of tourism.

During the war and occupation, of course, the tourist and excursion work completely stopped. Many tourist facilities were burned and destroyed, inventory was destroyed and looted. Only the republican committee for physical culture and sports suffered damage, estimated at 1,530 thousand rubles (in pre-war prices).

The emergence of the tourist movement in Belarus was slow and contradictory, being completely dependent on the party and state bodies that determined its form and content.

In June 1944, the Council of People's Commissars of the BSSR adopted a resolution on the resumption of work and assistance, first of all, to the committees for physical culture and sports. The restoration of state bodies for the management of physical culture and the tourist movement was carried out as the territory of the republic was liberated. By the end of 1944, all regional and 84 (more than 50%) regional committees for physical culture and sports resumed their work.

By the decision of the government of the BSSR in 1944, the State Order of the Red Banner of Labor Institute of Physical Culture and the Minsk Technical School of Physical Education began work, which began training specialists, including those in tourism. Voluntary sports societies began to function.

In 1957, for the organization of local and international excursions at Belsovprof, the Minsk excursion base of the Central Tourism Administration of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions was created, later transformed (1959) into the Belarusian Tourist-Excursion Directorate (BTEU) of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, which developed the "Regulations on the Belarusian Tourist-Excursion Administration of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions" , which envisaged as its main task the implementation of tourist and excursion work on the territory of the BSSR with the aim of promoting socialist construction and familiarizing the workers with the economy, geography, natural resources of the country, the history and culture of the peoples of the USSR, the heroism of the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars, as well as promoting the development of mass tourism and excursions as a means of instilling Soviet patriotism and organizing cultural recreation for workers. The BTEU All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions was entrusted with the functions of promoting tourism, mountaineering and excursions; organizing tourist, mountaineering, hiking, automobile, skiing, water, mountain and other travel; construction and maintenance of tourist and excursion bases; publication of tourist literature, reference books, travel guides; organization of courses and seminars for training personnel for tourist and excursion work.

Until 1958, the republic did not have its own material base for the development of tourism and excursions, and almost all work in this direction was limited to organizing excursions.

On June 8, 1959, in accordance with the order No. 24 on the BTEU All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions in the village of Stepeneva, the former Molodechno region, the following were opened: the Naroch tourist center with a staff of 21 people and 200 beds per shift; a tourist center "Braslav Lakes" in Braslav with a staff of 11 people per 100 beds per shift. In May 1961, in the village of Honoles, Minsk region, on the Zaslavskoye reservoir, the Belarus tourist center with a capacity of 100 people in one shift began to operate.

Thus, there were three bases in the BSSR: "Naroch", "Braslav Lakes" and "Belarus".

In these tourist centers, during the summer recreation period, the tourists carried out hikes along the combined routes: some went on foot, and some sailed by boats. The duration of the routes is up to 10 days, the number of tourists in groups is up to 20 people.

It should be noted that the only camp site that worked in the winter was "Braslav Lakes", which has the ability to provide ski trips to 350 vacationers at the same time. In addition to tourists who came on vouchers for 10 days, on weekends the base was visited by up to 200 people wishing to actively relax. This was facilitated by the fact that, by agreement with the Office of the Belarusian Railway, a special train departed from Minsk to Belarus station on weekends and holidays. It had a wardrobe, a buffet, a dining car. In the evening, the train returned to Minsk.

In 1961, 36 summer tourist health camps, organized by industrial enterprises and higher educational institutions, worked in the republic, in which 31,200 people had a rest. 176 628 people took part in weekend hikes, 17 tourist equipment rental offices were operating.

Since 1961, the first tourist clubs began to operate in the republic. They were created at the Gomel and Mozyr Pedagogical Institutes, at the Belarusian Institute of Railway Engineers, in the Vitebsk and Grodno DSO "Krasnoe Znamya" and in the Minsk DSO "Spartak". These six clubs were mainly involved in organizing and conducting amateur tourism. They had rental offices for tourist equipment.

On July 20, 1962, according to the decree of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions Presidium "On the further development of tourism", BTEU was reorganized into the Republican Council for Tourism, and a governing council for tourism in the amount of 55 people was elected and approved. The main task of the presidium was to create local tourism bodies: regional tourism councils, city (district) tourist clubs and tourist sections in sports teams. By the end of 1962, regional tourism councils were created in all six regions, 8 tourist clubs, 31 tourist centers and 22 houses of fishermen and hunters functioned, about 12 thousand people were engaged in 254 sections.

In July 1962 the tourist train "Belarus" made its first trip. The route passed through the Baltic republics and the RSFSR. In 20 days of travel, the train traveled about 3 thousand km through the territories of the Lithuanian and Latvian republics, visited Estonia, Leningrad, Moscow, Vyborg, Smolensk. The route of the tour train was designed so that tourists traveled at night, and during the day they made excursions, got acquainted with the sights of cities, and had a rest.

On June 8, 1964, the Belorussian Council for Tourism and Excursions, together with the collegium of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized and Professional Education of the BSSR, adopted a resolution "On the state and measures to improve work on the mass development of tourism among students and students of vocational educational institutions of the Belarusian SSR." Tourist sections were created in all universities and technical schools, and tourist clubs were formed in large institutions.

Guided by this decree, the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the Minsk State Pedagogical Institute named after Gorky in September 1965 decided to introduce a sports specialization in tourism for students of the institute. The next year, by the decision of the administration and the party organization of the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. Gorky, at the general meeting of the tourist sections and the tourist asset of the institute, the tourist club "Horizon" was created, which has done significant work to develop tourism among the students.

The increase in the influx of tourists was facilitated by the resolution "On the organization of tourist transportation in the BSSR by passing vehicles using the" Autostop "system, adopted in June 1965 by the Belarusian Tourism and Excursion Council together with the collegium of the Ministry of Automobile Transport of the BSSR.

In accordance with the decree of the bureau of the Minsk City Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus of March 17, 1965 and the decree of the Presidium of the Belarusian Republican Council of Trade Unions of March 31, the Minsk city excursion bureau under the Belarusian Council for Tourism and Excursions began to function. In 1966, excursion bureaus were created in all regional centers, as well as in Bobruisk, Mozyr, Polotsk and Orsha.

With the introduction of Autostop, up to 10 thousand tourists of the republic could use vehicles annually, and the annual profit was 4–5 thousand rubles.

In October 1967 the Belorussian Council for Tourism and Excursions, together with the State Committee for Nature Protection, adopted a resolution "On the participation of tourists of the republic in nature protection activities." The decree was sent to all tourist clubs, local Komsomol committees and major tourism sections.

In connection with the transition of workers to a five-day working week, the excursion bureau developed a number of new one-, two- and three-day long-distance routes to Brest, Orsha, Vilnius, Chernigov, Pushkinskie Gory, etc. Only in 1968 the bureau organized 25 sets of tourist trains, each of which made excursions on average 410 people, which allowed more than 10 thousand workers of Belarus to visit various places in the Soviet Union.

Tourist rallies played an important role in the popularization of tourism, in which Belarusian tourists-athletes took an active part. So, in 1968, at the IV All-Union rally of hiking amateurs in Kiev, the Belarusian team won first place in a massive competition in military-applied types of tourism. In addition, the team won four second and six third prizes in various types of contests and competitions. The Belarusian team was represented by 100 best sportsmen-tourists. The successful development of tourism in the republic is also evidenced by the participation of the Belarusian Republican Council for Tourism and Excursions in 1968 at VDNKh, which was awarded an exhibition diploma for organizing mass tourist trips.

Success in the development of republican tourism in these years is associated primarily with the expansion of the material base. In the 1968 season alone, there were twice as many stationary bases in the republic than in 1967. The Sozh and Beloe Ozero tourist centers, as well as the Brestsky camping site, began to operate. In addition, rented tourist centers "Brestskaya" and "Minskaya" were organized, serving the all-Union routes No. 369, 370 (in Belarus and Lithuania), as well as nine tourist centers on the Black Sea coast of Crimea and the Caucasus.

In May 1969, the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions adopted a resolution
"On measures for the further development of tourism and excursions in the country." A month later, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus, the Council of Ministers of the BSSR and Belsovprof developed and published a regulation "On ways of further developing and strengthening the material base of tourism, improving the quality of tourist and excursion work", which actually duplicated the union. During these years, joint activities of tourist and other public organizations began to be practiced.

Thus, the development of tourism and excursions relied on a wide network of cultural and historical sites and monuments.

On the territory of Belarus, about 13 thousand monuments of history and culture have been registered, of which about 7 thousand are under state protection. According to estimates of BELNIIP urban planning, it is possible to use about 1.8 thousand objects.

The popularization of tourism in the republic was facilitated by the decree of the Presidium of the Belsovet on Tourism and Excursions and the Presidium of the Board of the Knowledge Society of the BSSR "On strengthening the promotion of tourism and excursions among workers and improving lectures in tourist and excursion institutions", adopted in August 1970.

In the same year, Minsk hosted the second reading conference organized by the Tourist magazine. The results of the conference testified to the interest of the readership in the problems of tourism and excursions in Belarus.

In the postwar years, it began to revive and amateur tourism. The first trips were carried out in 1951-1956. groups of students and teachers of BSU im. IN AND. Lenin, Minsk Medical Institute and Belarusian Polytechnic Institute. For the first time in the republic, tourist sections were organized in these universities. Subsequently, tourist clubs began to be created here, the number of which began to grow rapidly.

Significant assistance in organizing amateur trips was provided by the directory "Amateur tourist routes in Belarus" (Minsk, 1953), compiled by teachers of the Belarusian State University. IN AND. Lenin V.A. Dementyev and A.Kh. Shklyar. The book has developed routes: Brest and Central Polesie; Brest - Belovezhskaya Pushcha; down the Pripyat; Naroch lakes; Orsha - Vitebsk; Braslav lakes.

The widespread development of amateur tourism has created a number of organizational and economic problems that could not be solved by public organizations. This necessitated the organization of a single center of the public tourist movement - the Tourism Federation of the BSSR, created in February 1977, which was tasked with bringing the amateur tourist movement in line with the existing rules for organizing and conducting amateur tourist trips across the USSR. The main direction of tourist work was the organization of trips to the places of revolutionary, military and labor glory of the Soviet people, which originated in the 50s. and turned into a mass patriotic movement, into a means of military-patriotic education of young people.

Thus, in the post-war period, under the leadership of the trade unions, a tourist and excursion base of Belarus was created, tourist camps, campings, summer health camps, tourist clubs were opened, tourist trains were organized, and special literature was published.

Simultaneously with the adult, developed and children's tourism. In the 1945/1946 academic year, the Republican children's tourist and excursion station of the Ministry of Public Education of the BSSR was organized in Minsk. The station organized tourist competitions for schoolchildren, prepared teams for participation in all-Union tourist competitions, etc. Later, such stations were created in Mogilev (1946), Vitebsk and Grodno (1951), Brest (1953), Gomel (1957), Minsk (1960 ).

All tourist and excursion work with pioneers and schoolchildren was concentrated in a network of tourist clubs, circles of young travelers, schools, palaces of pioneers, at children's tourist and excursion stations and bases.

In the 70s and 80s. tourist traffic was predominantly extensive. However, the stagnant phenomena in the economy began to affect tourism. Since 1989, the number of people involved in tourism and excursions has significantly decreased, which indicated the emergence of a crisis in the tourist movement.

With the collapse of the USSR, the former tourist and excursion system practically ceased to exist. The period of formation of national tourism, the emergence of the tourist business began.

Tourism in the Republic of Belarus. The impetus for the unification of the tourist business of Belarus was the fair “Tourbusiness-94” held from 7 to 10 December 1994 in Minsk. In the course of its work, an initiative group of professionals was formed, which decided to create in the republic the Belarusian Association of Travel Agencies. For its establishment, on January 28-29, 1995, a congress of the Belarusian Association of Travel Agencies was held in Minsk, in which more than 100 representatives of the travel industry from 80 travel companies took part. The governing bodies of the association were elected and the charter was adopted.

The state body responsible for the development of foreign tourism in Belarus was the International Tourism Department of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of Belarus. However, due to its small size (the entire staff was 10 people) and the lack of its own branches in the regions, it could not cope with the tasks assigned to it.

On November 10, 1995, the President of the Republic of Belarus issued decree No. 456 on the reorganization of the Sports Committee of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. This body was entrusted with the task of organizing all tourist activities in the republic.

A special group of competent specialists has been created in the Ministry of Sports and Tourism to develop the State Program for Tourism Development in Belarus. It was based on three themes from the international program "European Cultural Routes" - "The Roads of the Vikings", "Baroque" and "Monasteries", which will subsequently be presented for discussion by the European tourist community. For the development of foreign tourism, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated October 1, 1996, the national tourist concern "Belintourist" was created, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism and manages the enterprises and organizations of this concern in the field of sports and tourism.

However, in the current economic conditions, the problems of the development of tourism and excursions cannot be solved only with the help of state bodies. Therefore, in December 1996, a constituent conference was held on the creation of the Belarusian Tourism Federation, which decided to create the BFT. The governing bodies were elected - the board, which includes representatives of the regions of the republic and all types of tourist activities, the presidium of the board of 13 people and the president. The main tasks of the federation are the creation of national parks as a type of tourism, training of specialists for the future infrastructure serving various types of tourism, museums, etc.

Conditions are being created for the development of excursions. Thus, in September 1996, the Association of Guides and Guides-Translators was established at the Faculty of Geography of BSU, a charter was adopted, and a board headed by the president was elected. In the same year, the first enrollment in the higher school of guides was held at the geological faculty of the BSU, which prepares methodologists, tour guides, leaders of tourist groups, and in the future, guides-translators.

Recently, the main types of tourism in Belarus are international, sports and amateur. There are also children's and youth tourism, which is managed by the Republican Center for Children's and Youth Tourism and Excursions.

As for commercial tourism, more than 500 economic objects have licenses for the right to engage in such activities in Belarus, 498 companies have received licenses for sending groups abroad, 197 companies for receiving foreign tourists and 90 companies for excursion services for citizens of the republic.

Thus, having gone through a difficult and contradictory path of development, tourism in the Republic of Belarus actually begins a new stage in its activity in new historical conditions.

Services for tourists are of great importance for the development of inbound tourism. Currently, there are five hotels in the republic that have an international category and are qualified by stars. The hotel "Minsk", opened in December 2002 after reconstruction, was assigned the category of a four-star hotel, a three-star one - the hotels "Tourist", "Orbit", the hotel of the International Educational Center "IBB" located in Minsk, as well as the hotel "Naftan" in Novopolotsk ... The hotel complex "Yubileiny" belongs to the category "Higher A", 11 more hotels belong to the category "Higher B". In total, in 2003 there were 261 hotels in the republic,
2 motels, 1 camping and 12 other types of accommodation, their simultaneous capacity was 23.6 thousand places. Compared to 2002, the average utilization of accommodation facilities increased from 3.6% to 38%.

As promising directions for the development of inbound tourism in Belarus, it is envisaged:

- organization of tours to places of important historical events and places of activity of prominent historical figures of Belarus and neighboring countries - Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine;

- familiarization of foreign citizens with outstanding monuments of Belarusian stone and wooden architecture, folk art and everyday life.

Review questions

The origin of cycling tourism in Belarus at the end of the 19th century.

2. Activities of the Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions in Belarus.

3. The contribution of the tourist base "Naroch" to the development of amateur tourism.

4. Features of the organization of winter recreation of workers at the camp "Braslav Lakes"?

5. Tourist train "Belarus" 1962 and its route.

6. Student tourist club "Horizon".

7. Tourism under the leadership of the Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions in Belarus.

8. Tourist activity in the 30s - 40s in Belarus.

9. What are the characteristics of the 50-80 years?

10. Tourism in the Republic of Belarus after the declaration of independence.

The legal protection of travelers on the lands of the state was enshrined in the main law - the Charter of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1566).

The emergence of the tourist movement in Belarus was slow and contradictory, being completely dependent on the party and state bodies that determined its form and content.

Until 1958, the republic did not have its own material base for the development of tourism and excursions, and almost all work in this direction was limited to organizing excursions.

Thus, there were three bases in the BSSR: "Naroch", "Braslav Lakes" and "Belarus".

With the introduction of Autostop, up to 10 thousand tourists of the republic could use vehicles annually, and the annual profit was 4–5 thousand rubles.

Success in the development of republican tourism in these years is associated, first of all, with the expansion of the material base. In the 1968 season alone, there were twice as many stationary bases in the republic than in 1967. The Sozh and Beloe Ozero tourist centers, as well as the Brestsky camping site, began to operate. In addition, rented tourist centers "Brestskaya" and "Minskaya" were organized, serving the all-Union routes No. 369, 370 (across Belarus and Lithuania), as well as nine tourist centers on the Black Sea coast of Crimea and the Caucasus.

Thus, the development of tourism and excursions relied on a wide network of cultural and historical sites and monuments.

With the collapse of the USSR, the former tourist and excursion system practically ceased to exist. The period of formation of national tourism, the emergence of the tourist business began.

Thus, having gone through a difficult and contradictory path of development, tourism in the Republic of Belarus actually begins a new stage in its activity in new historical conditions.

As promising directions for the development of inbound tourism in Belarus, it is envisaged:

- organization of tours to places of important historical events and places of activity of prominent historical figures of Belarus and neighboring countries - Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine;

- familiarization of foreign citizens with outstanding monuments of Belarusian stone and wooden architecture, folk art and everyday life.

Review questions

1. The origin of cycling tourism in Belarus at the end of the 19th century.

2. Activities of the Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions in Belarus.

3. The contribution of the tourist base "Naroch" to the development of amateur tourism.

4. Features of the organization of winter recreation of workers at the camp "Braslav Lakes"?

5. Tourist train "Belarus" 1962 and its route.

6. Student tourist club "Horizon".

7. Tourism under the leadership of the Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions in Belarus.

8. Tourist activity in the 30s - 40s in Belarus.

9. What are the characteristics of the 50-80 years?

10. Tourism in the Republic of Belarus after the declaration of independence.

Belarusian tourism: trends and prospects

Oksana VERNIKOVSKAYA, Leading Researcher of the Scientific Research Institute of Economics of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, Candidate of Economic Sciences How important it is sometimes for successful development to form the country's image. This is evidenced by the experience of Turkey, Chile, Finland, Ireland, Russia with the Winter Olympics in Sochi, and now in Rio de Janeiro. Promotion of the domestic tourism product may well become a successful strategic direction of marketing in Belarus. An illustrative example of its presentation is the publication of the survey results of the British tourist portal Travel Mail of the top 10 list, which included Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and Belarus itself was recognized as the most favorable for visiting in 2009. The list of 50 unusual architectural structures includes the National Library of Belarus. Can these and other objects attract foreign tourists and what are the prospects for tourism development?

Tourist infrastructure of Belarus and its use

In terms of tourism, Belarus has a number of advantages over other countries. Among them: proximity to Western Europe, Scandinavia - a tourist market with high financial potential; neighborhood with the Baltic states, Russia and Poland - an important resource for the development of cross-border tourism; ancient history and original culture (15 thousand objects of historical, cultural and architectural significance, of which 4.8 thousand are of national importance); preserved natural potential (vast forests, many water areas, natural medicinal resources, rich biological and genetic diversity).
At the same time, the effective development of the tourism sector is impossible without an extensive infrastructure, which includes hotels and similar accommodation facilities, sanatoriums and health resorts, various cultural and art objects and physical culture and sports facilities. Back in the early 90s. less than 5% of the many historical and natural sites in Belarus were used for tourism purposes. Until 2002, there was no advertising of the Belarusian tourist product abroad. The material and technical base of tourism was 70-80% in need of reconstruction. The hotel industry did not use the international standard that characterizes the level of service. The number of sanatoriums, boarding houses and rest houses decreased. There was no normative legal base regulating the relationship between tourists, travel companies and the state.
In recent years, there have been significant changes in the development of tourism infrastructure in the republic: the number of new comfortable hotel complexes, sanatoriums, recreation centers, etc. has increased; the hotel fund is being reconstructed and updated in accordance with the generally recognized world standards. 2000-2008 the number of tourist accommodation and recreation facilities increased by 50 units. In 2008, 222 new and reconstructed tourism facilities were commissioned (2 times more than in 2007), 381 billion rubles were spent. capital investments. As of January 1, 2009, there were 312 hotels in Belarus with a one-time capacity of over 24 thousand beds. One of them has a category of "five" and "four stars"; 12 - "three", the rest - of the highest and other categories. According to the forecast, in 2010 the one-time capacity of the hotel fund will increase to 25 thousand beds. In 2008, more than 1.5 million people were served in hotels, mainly (1.2 million) - citizens of the Republic of Belarus.
Most of the hotels are state-owned (67.3% of the total), a third are private (31.4%), the rest are foreign (1.3%). They all differ in the level and cost of the services provided. During the analyzed period the average annual occupancy of hotels increased by 10% and in 2008 reached 52%.
The second attractive resource for collective accommodation of citizens are sanatoriums, health resorts and other organizations. 2000-2008 their total number has decreased by 3 units. However, the number of sanatoriums increased by 7 units, which indicates the safety of the material and technical base for the improvement of the population. According to 2006 data, the one-time capacity of sanatorium-resort and health-improving organizations amounted to 42.9 thousand beds. In 2000-2008. the number of tourists has increased by 1.2 times.
Citizens from Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania come to Belarusian health resorts. But the main group is made up of Russians (about 70%). Their interest is due to several reasons: attractive nature, peaceful political situation in the country, quality of Belarusian food, affordable prices, modern medical facilities, good service.
Rich natural potential is concentrated on the territory of the reserve and four national parks (NP). Their total area in 2008 was 696 thousand hectares (3.4% of the country's territory), which is 0.4% more than in 2000. In 2000-2008. the number of tourists visiting these facilities increased by 3.9, including foreign tourists - 24 times. The infrastructure for organizing hunting tourism is intensively used, the revenue from which is increasing annually: in 2005 - 895.6 million rubles, in 2006 - 1167.2, in 2008 - 2004.4 million rubles.
Thanks to the declarative principle, the minimum of tax reporting, the opening of a preferential credit line, Belagroprombank began to actively develop the infrastructure of agroecotourism. 2006-2008 the number of agro-estates increased from 34 to 474. In 2008, 39.1 thousand people visited these facilities, of which mainly (98.6%) were residents of the CIS countries. It is gratifying that this type of recreation is preferred by Belarusians (95.3% of the total), as well as Russians (3%), Germans (0.3%), Poles (0.3%), Ukrainians (0.2%).
The development of tourism in the country is facilitated by the increase in the length and ramification of the network of public roads with hard surface, as well as the development of roadside services. At present, over 984 trade, service, hotel and similar accommodation facilities operate on highways (in 2008 the growth was 116.8% in comparable prices).

Dynamics and problems of tourism development in the Republic of Belarus

The created infrastructure should contribute to the dynamic development of tourism. However, the world financial and economic crisis made adjustments to the pace of its development. A decrease in tourist flows in Russia was observed already in 2008. At the end of the year, the volume of departure of Russian citizens fell by a third, employment in the tourism sector fell by 15%. In Belarus, the situation is somewhat better, although the overall statistics are largely influenced by transit tourist flows. It is clear that in difficult economic conditions, first of all, the costs of tourism and recreation are reduced. Analysis of the distribution of monetary expenditures of the population of Belarus for sanatorium, tourist and excursion services and services of cultural institutions showed that in 2000-2008. they began to spend less on the purchase of sanatorium vouchers (the share in the total volume of services decreased from 3 to 0.9%, and tourism and excursion services increased from 1.2 to 3.7%). The latter is preferred by the majority of the population with average and higher incomes, which confirms the global trend: people are increasingly inclined to consider travel an integral part of their lives and spend more time and money on them.
2000-2007 the number of trips of citizens of the Republic of Belarus outside the country increased by almost 1.6 times, including for tourism purposes - by 1.1, with private visits - by 2.4 times, as service personnel - by 1.9 times. In the crisis year of 2008, 1.2 million Belarusians went abroad less than in 2007.
In 2008, our fellow citizens used the services of travel agencies 3.4 times less than in 2000 and 1.4 times less than in 2007. The population of the country when choosing trips abroad was guided mainly by quality and prices. From organized tours Belarusians choose trips to Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, i.e. countries with traditional seaside holidays and liberal prices for tourist services.
At the same time, the growth dynamics of inbound tourism looks more impressive. The Republic of Belarus accepts citizens from 27 countries of the near and far abroad. In 2008, the number of foreign citizens who visited our country remained at the 2007 level - 5.3 million people. However, compared to 2000, the flow of foreign tourists increased 2.6 times. Foreign citizens began to come to Belarus twice more on official business, more than 3 times to visit with private visits, almost 3 times as service personnel, and for tourism purposes, trips decreased 5 times. Thus, there is a decrease in tourist visits for educational purposes and an increase in the number of business tourists.
The volume of inbound tourism organized by travel agencies increased over 2000-2008. 1.5 times. It is expected that in 2010 the growth in the number of tourists visiting our country will be 140.4%, and those who have left - 86.8% compared to 2008.
However, the analysis of indicators of tourism development showed that more tourists leave Belarus than enter. Despite the positive dynamics of the balance of payments indicators for “travel” items, the amount of money brought to our country by foreigners is almost 2 times less than that exported. At the same time, these indicators are affected by the imperfection of accounting for export-import transactions. The main drawbacks of the published statistics are the lack of information on the volume of travel services, expressed in tour days, overnight stays; indicators characterizing the intra-annual dynamics of tourism development and some others.
There are also factors that restrain the development of inbound tourism in the Republic of Belarus:
a small number of tourist class hotels (2-3 stars) with a modern level of comfort and a range of services, as well as a higher class (4-5 stars) for business tourism; slow development of roadside service;
the discrepancy between the quality of the tourist product and its price, which is comparable to that offered in Turkey, Montenegro, and higher than in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine with a lower quality level;
insufficient information and advertising of the Republic of Belarus as a country rich in tourist resources;
complicated procedure for issuing visas and their high cost for citizens of foreign countries (some countries, having felt the outflow of tourists, are already ready to reduce the cost of visas);
imperfect management of the tourist complex, in particular, the status of tourist and recreational territories is not legally regulated;
lack of practice in creating favorable conditions for investment in tourism infrastructure;
low level of training and lack of experience in quality service in market conditions, lack of specialized scientific institutions in the field of tourism.

Promising directions of tourism development in Belarus

Taking into account the preferences of the tourist audience, the current market situation and all favorable factors and conditions, in our opinion, it is possible to develop a diversified competitive national tourist product, including various types of tourism and recreation to attract foreign visitors: educational, ecological, health-improving, ethnic, hunting, sports, transit , business and religious (pilgrimage) tourism, agritourism, etc.
Thus, the development of ecological tourism in Belarus should be aimed primarily at foreign tourists, since foreign demand is based on cognitive and psycho-emotional needs. For the development of this direction, specially protected natural areas are preferred, each of which has its own characteristics. Environmental institutions offer the organization of tourist trips to untouched corners of nature, photo hunting for rare animals and birds that are in natural conditions, acquaintance with the flora and fauna of swamps. Recommendations for the development of ecological tourism, approved by the order of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus dated July 28, 2008 No. 174, apart from those noted, define: hiking, skiing, cycling and water trips, excursions to places where berries, mushrooms and medicinal plants grow, historical, cultural and manor-park complexes, fishing tours, visits to nature museums, open-air cages with wild animals.
The presence of a developed hydrographic network allows the development of water tourism. Recently, monuments of hydraulic engineering construction of the 18th-19th centuries have been restored and converted into popular tourism objects: the Augustow, Dneprovsko-Bugsky, Oginsky canals, the Berezinsky water system. Taking into account the geographical location of the navigable rivers of Belarus, the development of this type of tourism is envisaged on the Dnieper-Bug canal and the Pripyat river from Brest to Mozyr, on the Berezina, Dnieper, Sozh rivers from Borisov to Gomel.
Such specific types of tourism as medical, educational, scientific, event tourism can be identified as promising for development. Their goals are to provide quality and relatively inexpensive services in the field of dental care, language education, scientific activities (seminars, conferences, consultations), culture (celebrations on important dates, holding festivals, etc.).
Sustainable development of tourism is a long-term process that requires progressive and competent decisions in the short term. This requires: the development of recreational and excursion programs; implementation of acceptable service standards; the formation of certain traditions of hospitality; introduction of innovations and widespread use of information technologies; development of a marketing strategy in the field of tourism; creation of modern infrastructure of hotel and sanatorium-and-spa facilities; improving the pricing policy when creating a Belarusian tourist product that can compete with neighboring states; further development of the tourism complex management system and the regulatory legal framework; improving accounting in the field of tourism; changing the content and structure of education and science in the tourism industry.
In general, tourism, which is developing steadily, allows increasing the income of the national economy, stimulating the development of other industries, strengthening the health of the population, developing the infrastructure of resorts and health-improving areas, preserving the cultural heritage and natural healing resources.

The development of tourism in any country, region depends on a whole range of factors, conditions and resources. The clear winners are those countries that have sea and mountains. Despite the fact that Belarus does not have these resources, significant for tourism, it has a number of advantages over other countries. Among them: proximity to Western Europe, Scandinavia - a tourist market with a very high financial potential; neighborhood with the Baltic states, Russia, Poland is a serious resource for the development of cross-border tourism; ancient and rich history, distinctive culture; rich natural potential.

In the Republic of Belarus in recent years there have been significant changes in the field of tourism infrastructure: the number of new comfortable hotel complexes has increased; work is underway to reconstruct and update the existing hotel stock in order to improve its comfort and bring it to world standards.

Among the main trends in the development of domestic tourism are:

1 formation on the territory of the republic of tourist zones, interconnected with the system of recreation areas and resorts of local and republican significance, a network of urban and rural settlements;
2 increasing the number of tourist centers in the republic;
3 development of educational tourism in the republic on the tourist and excursion potential of tourist centers and cultural and historical sites;
4 development of sports and health tourism on the existing recreational system of the republic;
5 development of amateur tourism;
6 further expansion of the material and technical base of tourism.

One of the priority tasks of the concept of the State Program for the Development of Tourism in the Country for 2016-2020 is investment in the tourism industry, including in the construction of roadside service facilities, collective and individual accommodation facilities, and campgrounds.

It is planned to develop such types of tourism as cultural, educational, ecological, hunting, business (MICE tourism), caravanning (travel with accommodation in motorhomes) and automobile tourism, recreational and health tourism (SPA tourism). In addition, they will pay attention to the medical, sports direction (including fan tourism), as well as religious, cross-border and agroecotourism.

It is planned that by 2020 tourist arrivals (business, tourism, private travel) will increase to 5.1 million people. And revenues from the export of tourism services will increase 1.6 times and reach $ 460.0 million.

An increase in the one-time capacity of hotels and similar accommodation facilities is also expected - by 1.2 times (up to 38.0 thousand places). The total revenue from the provision of tourism services to the subjects of tourism activity will increase 3 times and amount to 12,000 billion rubles.

"A set of measures is envisaged to promote and develop the image of the Republic of Belarus as an attractive tourist region, which will make it possible to make inbound and domestic tourism a profitable component of the country's economy," the creators of the concept say.

Among other things, it is planned to develop social tourism, that is, to meet the needs for tourism services of certain categories of the population - the elderly, children and adolescents, people with disabilities.

The marketing policy, as before, will be based on "themes of the year" and is designed for tourists from Western Europe and the BRIC countries. Another direction is the development of air communication with Belarus, the attraction of new low-cost air carriers and the modernization of existing airports.

A necessary condition for increasing the export of tourism services will be quality control in tourism in accordance with international standards for the level of tourism infrastructure and services.

Work will continue on the implementation of the Tax Free system in trade objects. Also among the tasks in the field of tourism for 2016-2010 are quality control in tourism in accordance with international standards, participation in international tourism fairs and the opening of information centers in the regions of the country.

As for improving the regulatory framework in 2016-2020, special attention will be paid to the development of documents aimed at developing inbound and domestic tourism, attracting investments, stimulating the development of agroecotourism.

It is planned to harmonize tourism legislation in the Common Economic Space of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as in accordance with the UNWTO recommendations. Improvement of the legislation of the CIS countries will continue.

It is also proposed to improve the methodology for collecting statistical information by introducing an auxiliary (satellite) account in tourism. This will allow obtaining reliable data on the total contribution of tourism to the domestic economy (its share in GDP, employment, investment, budget revenues) and will serve as a powerful argument for attracting public and private investment in this area. It is planned that by 2020 tourist arrivals (business, tourism, private trips) will increase to 5.1 million people, revenues from the export of travel services of tourism entities will increase 1.6 times and reach $ 460 million. The one-time capacity of hotels and similar accommodation facilities by 2020 should increase 1.2 times to 38 thousand beds, the proceeds from accommodation should increase 1.5 times and amount to 2.2 trillion. white R. It is assumed that the proceeds from the provision of tourism services of subjects of tourism activities will increase 3 times and amount to 12 trillion. white R.

It is difficult to provide data on the number of domestic tourists; therefore, the most accurate data are data on the volume of paid services provided to the population in the field of culture, tourism and recreation. On the one hand, these data show a steady growth in sales of tourism and related services. In 2009 - 2014, their volume in absolute terms in Belarusian rubles increased by 3.8 times. However, over the same period, the Belarusian ruble has depreciated by almost 4.8 times against the US dollar, which seriously reduces the interest of Belarusian entrepreneurs in providing tourist services for Belarusian tourists and travelers within the country.

The problem is the small share of "tourist services" proper (tourist and excursion services, hotels and similar accommodation facilities, sanatoriums and recreation) in the total volume of paid services to the population in the field of culture, tourism and recreation. In 2009, this figure was only 6% of the total volume of paid services to the population in the field of culture, tourism and recreation. In 2014 - about 8% of the total volume of paid services to the population in the field of culture, tourism and recreation. Taking into account the difficult economic situation in the republic in recent years, the growth of the share of "domestic tourist services" in the total volume of services in the sphere of culture, tourism and recreation, as well as the growth in the number of trips of citizens of the Republic of Belarus abroad show the growing importance of tourist needs for modern Belarusians. This opens up good prospects for the development of domestic tourism.

Domestic tourism needs foreign investment, but for this it is necessary to develop clear rules of the game in the tourism market for all participants. It is possible to attract foreign investors with more profitable business conditions than in neighboring countries. First of all, the government plans to make land plots for construction more accessible, as well as to prepare a package of investment projects.

The country has adopted the Investment Code, the provisions of which are aimed at stimulating investment activity, its state support, as well as protecting the rights of foreign investors in the republic.

An Advisory Council for Foreign Investments has been established in Belarus, whose work is focused on improving the investment climate. A national innovation and investment agency is also being set up. There are six free economic zones with preferential conditions of activity.

Great attention is paid to the formation of a competitive and rationally functioning banking sector that enjoys the confidence of the population and meets the needs of the real sector of the economy. It should be noted that the government has strengthened 8 work to provide foreign banks with the opportunity to expand the scale of their activities in Belarus (today there are 9 banks with 100% foreign capital in the Republic of Belarus).

The priority zones for the development of tourism at the national level are Brest-Kamenetskaya, Baranovichsko-Slonimskaya, Grodno, Novogrudok-Nesvizhskaya, Minsk-Molodechno, Narochansko-Postavskaya, Polotsko-Ushachsko-Lepelicheskoye, Vitebsko-Orshanskaya, Bobruisk-Mogilevskaya, Bobruisk-Mogilevskaya zones. Favorable preconditions for their development are that almost all of them are located in the area of \u200b\u200binfluence or at the intersection of the existing and prospective trans-European communication corridors and are concentrated around the main centers of the tourist infrastructure. Tourism development trends in the Republic of Belarus are clearly demonstrated by tourism statistics. According to the WTO recommendations, tourism statistics are carried out in two important sections: statistics of tourist flows and statistics of tourist income.

Analysis of the main trends in external markets and their impact on the determination of industry priorities can be traced through the structure of the tourist flow to the Republic of Belarus. The table shows the main export markets for tourism services. However, it should be borne in mind that this data includes only organized tourists, it does not include persons visiting Belarus for personal and business purposes. In other words, these data do not fully reflect the structure of the markets for entry into Belarus. For a more complete picture, you need information about crossing the state border, as well as the purposes of travel.

Tourism in Belarus:

opportunities and prospects

Belarus is a country in the heart of Europe

Belarus is located in the very heart of Europe. It surpasses the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in its area (207.6 thousand sq. Km). Do you like traveling, discovering new countries, meeting new people and collecting vivid impressions, and Belarus is still terra incognita for you, a white spot on the map of Europe? It's time to correct this unfortunate omission. Let's get acquainted!

In the Middle Ages, the lands that make up modern Belarus were called the Land of Castles. Today it is most often called "blue-eyed", the land of a thousand lakes. And thanks to the forests, which occupy a third of the country's territory, and the unique swamp complexes, it is also the “lungs of Europe”.

Belarus attracts travelers with its unique nature, the beauty of which, although not striking, penetrates the soul gradually and forever. The Belarusian rivers carry their waters calmly and majestically, inhaling the coniferous smell of a pine forest. You can relax not only with your body, but also with your soul. In Belarus, there have been preserved corners of untouched nature, where no man has yet set foot, but where animals and birds that have long disappeared from European forests feel very comfortable. It is not for nothing that Belarus is already well known in the world among lovers of ecological tourism, biologists, photographers and birdwatchers.

For centuries Belarus has been a crossroads of numerous trade routes. Here, literally, east and west, north and south met. The geographical position of Belarus made it open to the influences of other cultures. Perhaps, it is thanks to this that one of the main features of the Belarusian character was formed - tolerance, tolerance for other religions, views, views. One has only to come here, and you yourself will appreciate the cordiality and hospitality of Belarusians. Perhaps you will not be greeted with Hollywood smiles, but you just have to enter into a conversation and you will be pleasantly surprised by the warmth and simplicity of handling typical of Belarusians. Guests are loved here and are always ready to help.

There are seven main tourist bases in the republic:

- "Belarus" - near Minsk, on the Zaslavl reservoir;
- "Lake Naroch" - on the same name, the largest lake in Belarus;
- "Braslav Lakes" - on Lake Drivyaty;
- "Vysoky Bereg" - in the upper reaches of the Neman, not far from the station Stolbtsy;
- "Dnepr" - in Mogilev, on the steep Dnieper Yar;
- "Sozh" - near Gomel on the banks of this river;
- "White Lake" - near Brest, near the lake with the same name.

You ask: "What is tourism in Belarus?"

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Unique untouched nature

Surprisingly delicate, like watercolors of a talented artist, landscapes, crystal clear Iozero rivers, ringing pine forests filled with bird discord. Belarus is ready to open to its guests one of the last wonders of the world - a miracle of virgin nature.

A third of the country's territory is occupied by forests, and the whole of Belarus is penetrated by a dense network of rivers and lakes. There are especially many "blue beads" in the north and northwest of the republic. Belarusian swamps have become a paradise for fishermen and birds.

Many of the representatives of the local flora and fauna are listed in the Red Book, and the swamps themselves, for the huge amount of oxygen they generate, were dubbed by journalists all over the world "the lungs of Europe."

Visit the oldest biosphere reserve in the republic - "Berezinsky", and you will see with your own eyes thickets of black alder growing right in the swamps, nesting places of rare birds and, finally, the most ancient route "from the Varangians to the Greeks." Inundated floodplain meadows, the bitter aroma of herbs, and most importantly - a unique opportunity to observe birds up close are waiting for you in the Pripyatsky National Park, which is located in the center of the Polesie lowland.

Imagine that you are in a forest that is almost 900 years old! You can do this not in dreams, but in reality, by looking into Belovezhskaya Pushcha, included in the UNESCO List in 1992 World Heritage of Humanity. This is a real primeval forest, and the trees growing here still remember the princes of Kievan Rus. Among the pristine thickets, you can meet the black stork, white-tailed eagle, great gray owl, listed in the Red Book. Bialowieza bison are famous all over the world. It is here that the largest population of these mighty giants lives.

Whether you like comfort or prefer to live in a tent, you can always choose how to relax. You can stay in a comfortable hotel or in a guest house in the national park. And then you will receive a kind of bonus to walks along quiet forest paths - all kinds of entertainment: from baths to hunting, from excursions to fishing.

Or you can go hiking on horseback, kayak, raft or on foot. The quiet lapping of coastal waves, the heady aroma of barbecue, songs with a guitar around the fire ... What could be better?

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

A distinctive cultural heritage

Like ice and fire, the cultures of the West and the East converged in Belarus. This strange alliance has amazingly influenced the appearance of our country. Here the Byzantine style, characteristic of Russia, and the Gothic style that came from Western Europe coexist, intricately intertwined baroque, classicism and modern.

Every traveler is looking for something in a foreign country that he will not see at home. For many tourists, these are monuments of Gothic architecture: spiers rising to the sky, lancet windows, arch-ribs ... Like a fairy mirage, in the small town of Pastavy, above the Myadelka river, the church of St. Anthony of Padua, built in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, seems to float. You will find such beauty only in France!

How about plunge into the real Middle Ages? Feel its spirit, catch the unique aroma exuded by the past eras? The Mir Castle, built in the 16th century, awaits you. Take a stroll through the cobbled courtyard, climb the narrow spiral staircase to the watchtower, look out into the street through the loophole - and you will never forget the delight of being in contact with the distant past.

Mysterious and beautiful, each in its own way, are the castles in Nesvizh, Novogrudok and Lida. Time itself bewitches them, beckoning with revelations of medieval secrets.

Traveling around Belarus, be sure to look at the temples-fortresses of the 16th century in Synkovichi, Murovanka, Kamai. Their stern appearance reflects the struggle and bloody battles. Wooden churches; in Zhirovichi, Slutsk, Dudakh - they keep the spirit of Orthodoxy, bring peace and tranquility within themselves. Old Catholic churches in Ishkoldi (15th century), Vselyub (15th century), Nesvizh (16th century) amaze with their unique luxury.

But maybe you would like to see something familiar and close? Then wrap up in Polotsk! Polotsk and Novgorod Sofia are sisters, similar, like two drops of water. Nezavisimosti Avenue in Minsk will probably also seem familiar to you. After the war, it was completely rebuilt from ruins, and, quite possibly, in the near future it will be included in the UNESCO List as a vivid example of urban development of the Stalinist era.

Belarusian traditions and national holidays will whirl you in a whirlpool of fun and joy. Belarusians are rightfully considered the most tolerant nation, hospitably receiving guests

During its long history, the Belarusian people have created a unique and distinctive culture. Traditional folk holidays and rituals are combined with Christian traditions, forming a unique harmonious synthesis.

Most of the population of Belarus is Christians. The main holidays of Christianity are Christmas and Easter, which are celebrated twice: according to the Orthodox and Catholic religious calendars.

Christmas is celebrated solemnly, observing many traditions and rituals. On this day, everyone is having fun, visiting each other. The most famous Christmas fun is riot. An indispensable attribute of the Christmas holidays is an elegantly decorated Christmas tree.

On the holiday of Christmas there is such a sign: having gone on a visit, a man must first enter the house, contrary to the usual rules of etiquette. If a woman enters the house first, she will bring troubles, illnesses and troubles to the owners of the house.

Easter is a holiday of the victory of life over death, light over darkness. On the eve of Easter, the house is cleaned, tidied up, a wide variety of dishes are prepared, eggs are dyed and cakes are baked. Easter food on Holy Saturday is illuminated in temples. At the festive table, first they eat a piece of a lighted boiled egg, Easter cake, and only then - all the prepared dishes. On Easter days, as well as on Christmas, believers visit each other, sing songs and dance. The peculiarity of Easter is the walking of the wolf books. The family, which the volochechniks visit, treats them with festive dishes, colored eggs, Easter cakes, sweets.

Along with Christian ones, Belarus also celebrates national holidays that come from pagan traditions. These are, first of all, Kupalye and Maslenitsa, which are accompanied by folk dances, songs, games and traditional rituals.

On the night of July 6-7, Belarus celebrates the most ancient ritual holiday - Kupala, which is dedicated to the pagan god of the Eastern Slavs - the god of all earthly fruits, Kupala. One of the main activities of this holiday is the search for the mythical; paparazzi-kvetka. Whoever finds a flower will be lucky all year, and can ask for the fulfillment of any desire. On Kupalya they sing, dance, jump over the fire, thereby people get rid of various misfortunes and diseases. And at the end of the Kupala night, it is customary to swim. There is a belief that bathing, like Kupala dew, has healing powers.

Shrovetide is a rite of seeing off winter and meeting spring. On Maslenitsa, mass festivities are held with folk music and dances in national costumes. Pancakes are an indispensable attribute of the holiday. Since pagan times, pancake is a symbol of the sun. It was believed that pancakes are eaten for the glory of spring, the fertility of the earth.

The celebration of the New Year is truly popular. Even before the celebration, all the cities of Belarus are changing: festive lighting turns on, elegant New Year trees appear on the squares, fairs and exhibitions work, a theatrical procession of Father Frosts and Snow Maidens takes place.

Traditional Belarusian culture is inextricably linked with handicrafts. Wood carving, pottery, embroidery; this is not all that our ancestors succeeded in. It is interesting that the relic of the Belarusians; Slutsk belts; only men weaved, and they themselves wore them and helped to tie the owners. It was believed that if a woman's hand touches the precious threads of the belt, the fabric will tarnish and the belt can be thrown away immediately. You can see the work of modern craftsmen in some villages or in the museum complex of ancient folk crafts and technologies of Dudutki.

Therefore, the best reminder of Belarus will be small souvenirs - a woven and embroidered towel, a piece of straw or a linen tablecloth, or maybe felt boots decorated with beads, which will warm you in bad weather.

While in our country, be sure to ask to speak with you in Belarusian, listen attentively to the melody of its sound, polished over the centuries. It is not without reason that the Belarusian language, according to many scientists, is considered one of the most melodic languages.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Unique national cuisine

Fragrant pork stewed in pots with sour cream and mushrooms, pike fish soup, potato dumplings with cracklings and fried onions - all this is Belarusian national cuisine!

It is generally accepted that potatoes are the most important thing on the table of a Belarusian. Fried and boiled, stewed and mashed, it acts as a side dish and as a main dish. Even not a fan of this vegetable can not refuse Belarusian pancakes and potato pancakes with sour cream - they are so appetizing and fragrant!

But potatoes did not always enjoy such an honor. Back in the 17th century, it was grown as exotic, and the ladies decorated their hats with the flowers of this plant. It was only at the end of the 19th century that potatoes appeared on peasant farmsteads and tables. Until that time, Belarusians preferred boiled beans with garlic and linseed oil.

Don't you share vegetarian tastes? Then pay attention to pork dishes, which occupies a special place in Belarusian cuisine. In the villages, a tradition has been preserved: at the beginning of winter, slaughter a pig and make sausages, salt lard and make polandvitsa - dried salted meat.

The most hearty meat dish is machanka. These are pieces of pork or sausage, first fried and then stewed in a pot with sour cream. They eat machanka with pancakes or pancakes, which are dipped directly into the pot.

By the way, the ancestors of modern Belarusians were great jokers. In winter, the gentry went to visit each other and "stayed" until all the supplies were consumed. It was then that the owner cooked a full dish of crayfish, to the bottom of which he lowered two live arthropods, having previously wiped them with vodka, from which the crayfish turned red and temporarily lost their mobility. When the guests got to the bottom of the plate, the "drunken" crayfish just started to crawl again, frightening the eaters to hiccups. However, this tradition has long been forgotten, so if you are served crayfish with beer, eat them boldly!

But krambambulu, a drink invented by the gentry about 200 years ago, Belarusians have not forgotten and drink with pleasure to this day. This is a strong alcohol infused with spices. A great addition to any table will be a krupnik (a mixture of herbal infusion, alcohol and honey). If you are a supporter of a sober lifestyle, try the Belarusian kvass made from natural birch sap, it will give you vivacity and strength.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Rich cultural life

Walking through numerous Belarusian museums and exhibitions can be turned into a fascinating attraction, the essence of which is the search for the most original work. And your discovery can be both a splash of young talent and the work of a venerable author.

There are more than 140 museums in the Republic of Belarus. Some preserve history in arrowheads and clay shards, antique jewelry and manuscripts, while others preserve works of art for posterity.

Memories of a bitter period for the country, common with Russia, are collected in the Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk.

The works of famous artists and sculptors - Napoleon Orda, Chaim Soutine, Ferdinand Ruschits - are kept in the capital's National Art Museum.

In Brest, you will find a rare opportunity to look into the past a thousand years ago! After all, the Berestye Museum is nothing more than a preserved and accessible urban settlement of the X-XIII centuries.

Do not neglect small expositions and exhibitions. Sometimes they are the ones that best reflect the original culture of Belarus.By the way, the city streets themselves can be considered exhibition halls. Metropolitan sculptures - postman,girl with an umbrella and a lady with a dog are well known to the lovers. It is customary to make romantic dates near them.

Maybe you want to touch the mystery of creativity? Go to Vitebsk. In the picturesque outskirts of the city, the estate of the outstanding artist Ilya Repin has been preserved, here he worked away from the hustle and bustle

What if a great talent is hidden in you? Feel free to pick up a brush and try your hand!For fans of Melpomene, numerous theaters light up the lights in the evenings. Sparkling performances please the National State Academic Drama Theater. Yakub Kolas in Vitebsk and the National Academic Theater. Yanka Kupala in Minsk, and the capital's Theater of the Film Actor surprises the viewer with piercing philosophical performances, often with only one actor on stage. The most famous theater in the country is the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, whose artists have won tremendous success, both among domestic and foreign audiences.

You can remember your childhood and go to the circus. Funny clowns and trained animals, flexible gymnasts and dexterous magicians will not let you get bored. Circus works in Minsk and Gomel.

Of course, talking about performances and circus performances, about the play of artists and directorial finds is a thankless task. As they say, it's better to see once ...

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Ample opportunities for active tourism

Are you tired of monotonous work and gray everyday life? The hustle and bustle of the big city press on you, and you want to feel the freedom and joy of movement again, as if in childhood?

Belarus invites you to the world of active tourism! The ski resorts "Logoisk" and "Silichi", which are located not far from Minsk, will give you an inimitable delight of meeting with the height and flight. Due to the hilly landscape, locals call this region "Little Switzerland". The European standards of the complexes will delight skiers and snowboarders, both professionals and beginners. Here at your service: an ice rink, gyms, tennis courts, a sauna, mountain bikes, ATVs, roller skates, roller skis, as well as picnics in the woods with barbecue, potatoes baked on a fire and other delicacies.

High descents don't impress you? Then welcome to a journey along ecological trails. In the National Park "Narochansky" the walking route to the "Blue Lakes" reserve is especially popular. The view from the observation deck to two cornflower-blue lakes - Glublya and Glubelka - will not leave anyone indifferent. On the Braslav Lakes, you can admire the amazing landscapes from the Mayak Mountain, taste the waters from the healing forest creep, watch rare birds and animals. There are ecological paths in the Berezinsky Nature Reserve and in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Hiking under the shade of age-old trees will help you experience peace and joy in life.

For those who want to see as much as possible in one trip - bike or horse rides. Winding forest paths, woven in an intricate pattern, narrow bridges thrown over rivers and streams, small Belarusian villages - this is a bouquet of impressions that you can collect.

If you are an experienced swimmer, you can go kayaking and rafting. The open spaces of the Braslav lakes, Naroch and Svityaz are open for you, and the conquest of the rivers - Pripyat, Neman, Dnieper, Sozh and Bug - will become an event that you can then proudly tell your friends about.

Belarus is a sports country. We have traditionally developed such winter sports as freestyle, biathlon and ski jumping. Competitions of European and international level constantly attract the attention of many sports fans. And in 2014 Belarus will hostIce Hockey World Championship.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

National parks and reserves

The beauty of the pristine Belarusian nature with its unique healing springs of mineral water and therapeutic mud invariably attracts tourists.

The forests of our country, located in the center of Europe, occupy 1/3 of the territory, and the Belarusian swamps are rightfully considered the "lungs" of Europe, as they produce a significant amount of oxygen.

National parks of unique beauty"Bialowieza Forest" , "Braslav lakes" , "Pripyatsky", "Narochansky" and Berezinsky State Biosphere Reserve - the pride of our republic. They are home to over 70 species of animals and about 300 species of birds, some of which are unique.

Fascinating journeys on foot or by car, by boat or by helicopter will reveal to you the rich and varied world of plants and animals in their natural habitat, and excursions along ecological trails will allow you to learn more about the ecology and biology of natural complexes.

There are 4 national parks in Belarus: "Belovezhskaya Pushcha", "Pripyatsky", "Narochansky" and "Braslav Lakes".

The first state in the republicNational Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" - one of the oldest nature reserves on the planet, and now there are places in it where no man's foot can go. It is home to the world's largest population of Europe's largest mammal, the European bison. 2 thousand giant trees grow. Some of them appeared even before Columbus discovered America!

National Park "Pripyatsky" was created with the aim of preserving in its natural state a landscape that is unique for the Belarusian Polesye. Here, vast open meadows coexist with whole scaffolds of shrubs, swampy lowlands - with areas of woodland, numerous oxbow lakes - with sand dunes. The national park has the international status of a key bird area.

Territory has a complex landscape structure. The mosaic nature of the landscapes, the beauty of the lake basins, interspersed with meadows and swamps, give the park a special charm and originality. The pearl of the region is Naroch - the largest lake in our country (80 km2), framed by sandy beaches and centuries-old forests.

National Park "Braslav Lakes" was established in 1995 in order to preserve unique ecosystems, effectively and more fully use the recreational opportunities of the natural resources of the Braslav region and the natural complex of the Braslav group of lakes.

The main treasure of the National Park is the lakes. The landscapes of the complex basins of the Strusto, Snuda, Nespish and Nedrovo lakes are especially beautiful. The second largest island in Belarus, Chaichin, is located on Lake Strusto, which has an internal reservoir.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Castles, fortresses and towers

Belarus is a country of castles. Her memory keeps many memories of battles and truces, because the largest trade routes passed through the Belarusian lands, and these territories were a "tasty morsel" for neighbors. Of course, all this predetermined the appearance of objects of defensive architecture.

Since ancient times, traditional Slavic fortifications are known - fortifications, which were the predecessors of the first castles. The first stone fortifications appeared in the 13th century. An example of this is the Kamenets Tower, which has been rising on the western border of Belarus for more than 7 centuries.

But the massive construction of stone castles began in the XIV-XV centuries. It was then that castles were erected in Novogrudok, Grodno, Lida, as well as temples - fortresses in Synkovichi, Kamai, Malomozheikovo.

The Renaissance era brought grace and originality to military architecture. Now the castle was not just a defensive structure, but the owner's residence. So,Mir Castle and Nesvizh palace and castle complex still keep the spirit of the Renaissance.

At the beginning of the 19th century, impregnable fortresses were built in Brest and Bobruisk. Even a century later, in the early days of the Great Patriotic WarBrest Fortress for a whole month she held back the onslaught of Hitler's troops.

Admire the pearls of defensive architecture in the history of our blue-eyed Belarus!

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS

Palaces and estates

Belarus is a country where the cultures of the West and the East are intertwined. Polish gentry, Russian noblemen, Belarusian noble families lived here. Palaces and estates have survived to our time:Sapegov , Rumyantsev and Paskevich , Chapskikh,Tiesenhaus ... In their luxurious palaces, rich estates and estates, erected by famous architects, the spirit of enlightenment hovered, the most educated people met. The owners were proud of the painstakingly collected collections of paintings, weapons, antiquities, rich libraries, greenhouses with plants rare for our latitudes.

We invite you to take a look at the original architecture of the "family nests", stroll through the shady alleys of ancient parks, fill your soul with the light of History and preserve the memories of your meeting with Belarus for a long time!

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Hunting and fishing

Geography has prepared a special place for Belarus in hunting Europe. The pristine nature of the surrounding forests and swamps, the excitement of tracking and chasing the beast, the euphoria from a successful shot, the joy of the opportunity to take home a valuable trophy - all these invariable attributes of a real hunt can be fully felt upon arriving in Belarus, whose hunting grounds occupy 18 million hectares.

Hunting traditions have been developing on the Belarusian land for centuries. Forests and forests preserved from the Middle Ages remember the sounds of the hunting of magnates and kings. Soviet and foreign statesmen have come to hunt in protected places more than once. Today, there are no social prohibitions for hunting in Belarus: any capable adult who has an appropriate certificate can go out with a gun or dogs to hunt wild boar, roe deer, deer, wolf and fox, waterfowl (more than 20 species of hunting animals and about 30 species of birds) for a hunting license issued by a government agency.

Germans come to Belarusian forests for a large animal - elk or red deer. Italians prefer waterfowl. Russians come to Belarus in the summer to hunt wild boar - this type of hunting in the Russian Federation is classified as prohibited.

Among the preferences of the subjects of the British crown is hunting foxes and wolves. The fox, as well as the wolf, are considered undesirable animals in the Belarusian forests and the hunting regulations for them are one of the most liberal, in particular, in some cases it is allowed to use a rifled hunting rifle with a muzzle energy of over 1000 joules, optical sights, night vision devices, traps. In Belarus, they seriously thought about allowing bear and lynx hunting. You can try your luck in sports bird hunting (duck, wood grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse and woodcock). The main routes of birds returning from the south pass through Belarus. These paths almost completely "cover" the territory of the republic. In the summer-autumn season, the main prey of hunters is the mallard. In addition to her, in the hunting grounds of Belarus, there are gray ducks, shirokonoski, cracklings and whistles, crested and red-headed ducks.

Demonstration hunting farms are being created in Belarus, where there is all the necessary infrastructure - stationary and temporary towers for trophy hunting, comfortable hunter's houses, dog enclosures, professional huntsmen. And also the opportunity to taste dishes of national cuisine, which local craftsmen will prepare from freshly harvested game.

The hunt does not end with a lucky shot. Belarusian legislation allows the export of hunting trophies from the country, without which the memory of an unforgettable tour will not be complete enough.

Belarus is even more interesting for an avid fisherman: a variety of fish species, unique natural conditions, more than 10 thousand of the cleanest lakes, about 20 thousand rivers - there is where to turn around and deploy fishing tackle. The organization of sports, amateur and underwater fishing is carried out in the national parks and fish farms of the republic. Belarusian health resorts, tourist centers and owners of hospitable rural estates invite fishing. In Belarusian reservoirs, fishermen are expected not only by roach, perch and ruff, but also catfish, pike, bream, pike perch, eel. Only in the reservoirs of the Belarusian Poozerie there are relict lake fish species of the Ice Age.

Anyone can fish in Belarus. For recreational fishing, it is allowed to use fly fishing, float and bottom rods of all systems, spinning rods, circles, tracks, girders, spearfishing guns and pistols, nets and lifting nets for fishing used as bait.

Take an unforgettable trip along the Belarusian rivers and lakes, which for centuries have delighted fishermen not only with their picturesque landscapes, but also with rich catches.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

LEISURE

Active tourism is popular in Belarus, because this type of tourism is the easiest way to health. Only a few hours of travel and simple equipment separate us not only from living beauty, but also from finding harmony and tranquility.

It offers many interesting routes to residents and guests of Belarus who prefer active recreation. You can go horseback riding and cycling in the most picturesque places of the country. Those who prefer active rest on the water will be interested in kayaking or rafting down the beautiful Belarusian rivers. And fans of extreme air recreation can go on a helicopter flight, feel all the charm of aerobatics on an airplane, or take a parachute jump.

The most widespread and most accessible type of tourism is hiking. Specially designed tourist routes that take into account the minimum human impact on nature pass through the reserves and national parks of Belarus. Special decks are being built, along which tourists pass, so as not to violate the inviolability of swamps and forests. Berezinsky reserve equipped with an ecological trail, where it is possible to get acquainted with various types of natural forests and bogs, as well as with the inhabitants of the forest.

Nationalpark "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" a variety of walking routes have been laid, where you can get acquainted with the natural systems of the forest in their natural state and look at wild animals in the enclosures.

Today one of the most popular types of tourism in Belarus is water tourism. Rafting along rivers and lakes, you can not only enjoy the change of coastal landscapes, but also see many of the main attractions of the country. The water routes run both from East to West and from North to South.

Nature is especially attractiveNational Park "Narochansky" ... The water surface of the largest lake in the republic, Naroch Lake (80 sq. Km) attracts lovers of water walks. An interesting and fascinating kayak route along the rivers Naroch and Viliya begins from its banks.

Traditional boating region -Braslav lakes ... The national park offers visitors a variety of one - and multi-day hiking trails.

By national park "Pripyatsky" you can make a fascinating birdwatching route on boats and kayaks with the possibility of photo hunting.

Along the waters of the Berezina River, which flows along the northern outskirts of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, you will take an excursion along the historical section of the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" - the ancient water trade route from the Baltic to the Black Sea, along which in the IX-XII centuries. trade was conducted. The natural and ecological route also passes through the Belarusian Polesie.

You can also take a trip on a pleasure boat or kayak around the Polesie Radioecological Reserve.

Belarusian roads are good for cycling. This type of movement allows you to fully experience freedom and get closer to nature. In addition to fascinating routes around the country, cycling routes from Germany and Poland to Russia and the Baltics pass through Belarus. Cycling tourism is perhaps the most informative of all types of tourism - in one trip you can visit cities, forests, mountains, rivers and lakes. During the trip you will see picturesque villages with beautiful, traditional architecture, old small towns, historical places, corners steeped in legends and poetry, and get acquainted with traditional folk culture.

Equestrian tourism is reviving in Belarus today. Equestrian tourism is a pleasant physical activity, as well as a wonderful emotional release, an opportunity to feel closer to nature. Sitting on a horse, you can see the world around you better and breathe fresh air easier! Horseback riding and horseback riding services are provided by host country estates and equestrian clubs. Each horse trail has an instructor who can take care of everything.

It is by being alone with nature that we can just be ourselves. And a change of scenery will help you completely remove yourself from any daily worries and problems. Real rest is your mood, your emotions, your feelings that you acquire and with which you return home.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

Treatment and recovery

The tense rhythm of life, requiring great physical and mental strength, worries and problems of the surrounding everyday life lead to the fact that we feel tired and increased irritability. Sanatorium improvement will help you get rid of everyday worries and regain faith in your strength and health. For people who want to spend their holidays with health benefits, there are many proposals in Belarus for organizing recreation and health improvement in sanatoriums and health resorts.

Belarusian sanatoriums are located in the most picturesque corners of the country - in pine forests, on the banks of rivers and lakes, where nature is healing in itself. The temperate continental climate of Belarus, with mild and humid winters and warm summers, is conducive to rest and recovery here all year round.

Belarus possesses a variety of resources for the development of health tourism. The complex of climatic and natural healing factors, represented by four types of mineral water sources and deposits of therapeutic mud, contributes to the treatment of a number of diseases.

Some health resorts can organize a full family vacation with the possibility of health improvement. The sanatorium-resort base of Belarus is widely represented by sanatoriums, including children's ones, located both on the territory of the republic and abroad. The main treatment profiles in Belarusian sanatoriums are: diseases of the respiratory system and cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system and musculoskeletal, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, gynecological diseases and diseases of the circulatory system.

An integral part of sanatorium recovery is medical (dietary) nutrition. The health resorts of Belarus not only offer dietary food that corresponds to the disease, but also specially develop menus, taking into account the tastes and wishes of vacationers.

Each health resort has taken care of the comfortable accommodation of its guests in cozy cottages and well-appointed buildings. You will find suites, junior suites and standard rooms.

Vouchers to Belarusian health resorts are sold at any convenient time: for a weekend, a week, or a decade. Many sanatoriums have an opportunity to visit for any number of days, but in the summer, some of the sanatoriums have a specific arrival schedule, so you should take care of purchasing vouchers in advance.

Each sanatorium has its own microclimate. Whether it is the air saturated with negative ions from mixed forests in the immediate vicinity of a fast-flowing river, or surprisingly clean because of the smell of pine forests along the shores of a calm lake - everything makes this natural factor curative.

The health resorts pay much attention to the organization of leisure activities for vacationers. On the territory of the sanatoriums there are open playgrounds, sports and dance grounds, and equipped with beaches. During your recovery, you can visit a sauna or a real Russian bath with a broom, a swimming pool or a water park. At your disposal will be a solarium, a gym, a beauty parlor.

As a rule, each sanatorium has a rental point for sports and tourist inventory and equipment. Routes for cycling, hiking, photo hunting are being developed. We offer a variety of educational excursions by buses and motor ships to the monuments of the historical, cultural and natural heritage of Belarus.

If the measured life of the sanatorium is not to your liking, you can improve your health by combining procedures with active pastime at the country's tourist and recreational complexes. Here during your vacation you will be offered exciting journeys on foot, horse, bike or boat.

The harmony of natural healing factors and a powerful medical and diagnostic base, equipped with modern medical equipment, clean air, lakes and rivers, beaches, swimming pools and sports grounds, exciting excursions set you up for relaxation and recovery.

Experienced specialists, excellent balanced nutrition and a range of procedures offered in Belarusian health resorts help to strengthen health, get rid of ailments, restore efficiency and get a charge of vivacity and good mood.

Wellness in Belarus is not only a combination of decent quality and reasonable prices, it is an exquisite combination of tradition and modernity.

TOURISM IN BELARUS IS:

EXCURSIONS

Belarus is one of the most interesting places in Europe. Having visited our country, you can not only have a good rest, but also discover something new. Here everyone will find something for themselves. A wide variety of interesting excursion routes around the country will not leave anyone indifferent.

The hiking and biking trails are ideal for families. During fascinating travels around Belarus, you can see numerous natural monuments, visit protected places andattractions of national parks ... Some excursion routes involve visiting places where battles of wars were raging. Others will give you the opportunity to create a herbarium of the most amazing plants.

Water and horseback trips will certainly be appreciated by the young and energetic. The routes are interesting, full of excursion objects and pass through the most picturesque places of Belarus. Good impressions of communicating with the picturesque nature and the unique delights of our region, rafting down the rivers or riding a horse, will remain in your memory for a long time!

Well, if you just need adrenaline, extreme paths have been specially developed for you, to overcome which you will need dexterity, courage and skill. No route is alike, but all of them guarantee outdoor adventure, outdoor activities and a lot of positive emotions!

Discover unique and diverse Belarus!

SO! TOURISM IN BELARUS IS

NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES
LOCKS. FORTRESS. TOWER.
PALACES, ESTATE
HUNTING AND FISHING
LEISURE
EXCURSIONS
TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
UNIQUE URGENT NATURE
AN UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE
UNIQUE NATIONAL CUISINE
RICH CULTURAL LIFE
GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE TOURISM

IN BELARUS THERE IS WHAT TO SEE, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO STAY. AND HOW TO GET THERE!

President of Belarus in the development of tourism. Prospects for the development of domestic tourism in the republic of belarus. A distinctive cultural heritage

Unique untouched nature

A distinctive cultural heritage

Unique national cuisine

Rich cultural life

Ample opportunities for active tourism

National parks and reserves

Castles, fortresses and towers

Treatment and recovery

Modern directions in the development of innovative types of tourism

Recreational economy in Russia

History of the dish "pasta carbonara"

How to help a child with colic - tips and a review of medications

"I hate my children"

President of Belarus in the development of tourism. Prospects for the development of domestic tourism in the republic of belarus. A distinctive cultural heritage

Unique untouched nature

A distinctive cultural heritage

Unique national cuisine

Rich cultural life

Ample opportunities for active tourism

National parks and reserves

Castles, fortresses and towers

Treatment and recovery

Similar articles