Press releases

Bear the Traveler: Vitebsk Oblast to get its own tourism brand

VITEBSK, 5 August (BelTA) - Vitebsk Oblast of Belarus is set to get its own tourism brand - Bear the Traveler. This is part of a broader strategy aimed at turning the region into a tourist hub, Vitebsk Oblast Vice Governor Anzhelika Nikitina told the media on how the development of the industry could become a growth point for the oblast’s economy and image.

Tourism today is not just about leisure. It is a powerful driver for regional development. According to Anzhelika Nikitina, the region’s five-year plan includes key areas: modernizing infrastructure, creating quality tourism products, actively promoting them in domestic and foreign markets, and digitizing all processes. This year, a large-scale audit was conducted of sites that could be brought into economic circulation to unlock the region’s tourism potential. Information about them has been made publicly available on the websites of Vitebskoblimushchestvo, the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee, and the tourism agency. But the key is the outlook. A major boost comes from Presidential Decree No. 216 “On Measures for the Development of Certain Regions”, which outlines measures to give additional momentum to the social and economic development of the Poozerie region in Vitebsk Oblast through 2030.

All 13 types of tourism are developed in Vitebsk Oblast, with a particular emphasis on ecotourism, active tourism, religious tourism, event tourism, and historical and cultural tourism. To make the oblast recognizable and welcoming to visitors, work is underway to create a comfortable navigation environment. “The Vitebsk Oblast Tourist Information Center has already opened. In the regional center, it is located in a pavilion near the Summer Amphitheater, and similar centers will open in district centers,” said Anzhelika Nikitina.

A new art object, Bear the Traveler, has become a new tourist attraction in Vitebsk. “We plan to trademark the regional brand Bear the Traveler by September. It is already greeting guests near the Summer Amphitheater and the Vitebsk Hotel,” Anzhelika Nikitina clarified. The unique brand will increase the region’s recognizability. It was presented this year at the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, held in the Belarusian capital.

Special attention is paid to the introduction of advanced technologies. Work is underway on a modern unified web application, the Tourist Atlas of Vitebsk Oblast. This interactive platform will consolidate the region’s entire potential in one window. It will operate in four languages using artificial intelligence and will be able to handle up to 50,000 simultaneous users. “The atlas is scheduled to launch by the end of the year. This is a major step toward improving the accessibility and quality of tourism services,” the vice governor emphasized.

The development of tourism in Vitebsk Oblast is an investment in the future, creating new jobs and preserving cultural heritage for generations to come.