The most popular tourist destination in the Vitebsk region is health and wellness tourism
— The most popular type of tourism in the Vitebsk region is health and wellness tourism, — stated Vasily Zakharevich, head of the department of sports and tourism of the regional executive committee. — The share of export of services provided by sanatoriums for 8 months since the beginning of the year amounted to 6 million 632 thousand dollars, or 56.8 percent of the total volume of tourist services in the region. The growth compared to the same period last year is almost 183 percent. Russians are the main foreign visitors. Residents of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are also showing interest.
The network of sanatorium-resort and wellness organizations in the region includes 106 health resorts. They are located in ecologically clean areas where nature itself is a healing factor. Among the advantages are a good ratio of tour price to service quality, a modern medical base, and qualified specialists.
The Vitebsk region is famous for its rich cultural heritage, and it has great creative and natural potential. Therefore, 16 types of tourism are developing in its territory. In addition to health and wellness tourism, the most popular are cultural and educational, festival, military-historical, educational, and sports tourism.
One of the main indicators of tourism efficiency is the export of tourist services. In 2021, it amounted to almost 9 million 275 thousand dollars. The share of export of tourist services in the total volume of export of services of the region was 5 percent, which is the highest indicator in the country.
For January-August, the export of tourist services amounted to 7 million dollars, or 204.9 percent compared to last year's level, with a target of 161.7 percent. In the total volume of export of services of the region, this is 8.3 percent, and in the volume of export of tourist services of the country — 10.9 percent.