JSC Belagroprombank held the International Specialized Conference “Agroecotourism: current situation and prospects” on April 15, 2011

This conference is held annually to promote rural tourism, which is one of the most relevant trends in the tourism industry of the Republic of Belarus.

The conference was attended by the representatives of government bodies, public associations, foreign embassies and farmsteads owners, as well as foreign experts who shared their experience in the rural tourism industry. The conference entailed the discussion of the most crucial issues of agroecotorourism development in Belarus and abroad.

JSC Belagroprombank is successfully implementing the Program for agroecotourism support which envisages preferential lending to individuals and farm households to finance agroecotourism projects.

Furthermore, training seminars are held regularly for farmsteads owners to help them acquire tourist service skills and become familiar with the experience of their peers in the rural tourism industry. The Program implemented by the bank encourages the creation of new workplaces in the rural area, growth of self-employment and self-realization of rural population.

Belagroprombank arranged and financed publishing of four editions of the Catalogue of Farmsteads of Belarus. The first edition of the Catalogue published in 2008 included slightly more than 100 farmsteads, while the fourth edition launched in February 2011 features over 400 farmsteads.

In April 2011 the bank launched the electronic version of the abovementioned Catalogue (www.belagrotour.by), which is currently the most informative and easy-to-use site enabling you to search for farmsteads in Belarus.

The conference hosted a solemn awards ceremony of the «Farmstead of the Year 2010” contest initiated by JSC Belagroprombank, which, along with the conference, has become a traditional annual event.

The winners were awarded in the following nominations:

•  “Preservation of Belarusian traditions” -“Nikolin Ostrov” Farmstead;
•  “Healthy lifestyle”» - “Usadba” Farmstead;
•  “Hospitability” —“U kniazeva v Lyubuzhe” Farmstead;
•  “Green farmstead” — “Gostevoi dom u Buko Julii” Farmstead,
•  “Style and harmony” — “Syabry & Co” Farmstead.

The Grand-Prix went to the “Pavlinovo” farmstead.

The winners were awarded with diplomas and prizes presented by the general partners of the contest, namely Triple Ltd., JSC Consul, JSC Semena Trav, JSC Babushkina Krynka, JSC Agromashresurs , foreign LLC “Beldan”. The contest organizers would like to express special thanks to the sponsoring partners.

Media partners of the conference were the First National TV Channel, information agency “Belta”, “Zviazda” and “Tourism and Leisure” newspapers and internet-portal infobank.by