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Expert gives his take on Belarus’ top ecotourism places
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MINSK, 7 September (BelTA) - Which places in Belarus are most popular with tourists was discussed by Andrei Kastyuk, Deputy Head of the Department of Biological and Landscape Diversity at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, in the recent episode of BelTA’s project The Nation Speaks.
Andrei Kastyuk noted that with the support of the international technical assistance project Ecotourism Development to Promote Green Transition to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, infrastructure upgrades were carried out over the previous five-year period at four pilot nature reserves. This included the development of tourist centers, visitor centers, and the provision of new equipment.
“For the National Landscape Reserve Ozery in Grodno District, a narrow-gauge railway was restored, one that had once been used for transporting peat from peat deposits. A railcar was put into service, and an ecotourism route called The Reserved Path was established. It has become extremely popular, not only with Belarusians but also with visitors from other countries. Currently, all weekend slots along this trail are fully booked,” Andrei Kastyuk elaborated. The railcar now runs on electric power, making it even more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
The excursions offer various quizzes. “The guides talk about the biodiversity of the area: its flora, fauna, the landscapes, and the lakes, which form a whole complex there. The excursion even includes a stop on a glass bridge directly above a lake. Between 2021 and 2025, the number of visitors increased sevenfold. Naturally, the revenue from these excursions has also grown,” Andrei Kastyuk noted.
As a second interesting site, the speaker mentioned the national nature reserve Osveysky. There, a boat excursion takes visitors to the largest uninhabited island in the country - Du Island. "The guides tell the story of the island: how developed it once was, how people lived there, and how they ran their households. In fact, a cemetery still remains on the island to this day. There is an ecological trail in the part of the island. People also learn about the flora and fauna of the island. Several glamping sites have been set up near Lake Osveya. You can come for a weekend getaway and stay overnight,” Andrei Kastyuk said.
Regarding plans for the coming year, Andrei Kastyuk emphasized that the primary work in this area is carried out by regional and district executive committees, as well as state environmental institutions. “Each institution seeks out its own unique thing within the natural areas under its jurisdiction, which then serves as the foundation for building an entire cluster for tourism development,” he highlighted.
As an example of such a successful symbiosis, he cited the infrastructure development around the narrow-gauge railway in the National Landscape Reserve Ozery. According to Andrei Kastyuk, this tourist magnet naturally attracts local producers and artisans: craftspeople, beekeepers who organize tastings of honey, pollen, and signature honey-infused liqueurs and creative groups that host festivals and quizzes.
Such an approach allows environmental institutions to increase visitor numbers, which in turn stimulates the comprehensive development of the regions and creates new jobs in the area, he added.
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