POLOTSK, 8 July (BelTA) – A declaration on cooperation in promoting tourism was signed by Belarusian and Latvian participants of the Bella-Dvina tourist project at the international conference in Polotsk on 8 July, BelTA has learnt. The declaration envisages joint efforts to promote tourism in the neighboring regions of the Vitebsk Oblast and the Latgale Region, development of trans-border tourism facilities and introduction of joint trans-border initiatives and projects. The document was signed by nine regional town executive committees of the Vitebsk Oblast and the Latgale Region. The Belarusian-Latvian project Bella Dvina is co-financed with assistance of the European Commission as part of the programme “Baltic Sea region – INTERREG IIIB — Good Neighbourly Programme – INTERREG IIIA – Priority Latvia - Lithuania-Belarus (South)”. Its participants are the Polotsk town hall, the Beshenkovichi, Verkhnedvinsk, Vitebsk, Gorodok, Miory, Rossony, Sharkovshchina regions and six regions of Latvia. The partners of the project are Latgale Agency for Regional Development (Latvia), the Vitebsk Center for Regional Research and Development, others. The Belarusian-Latvian project Bella Dvina was launched two years ago. Over ?560,000 was allocated to implement the project, including over ?480,000 granted by the European Union. Over this period 12 tourist routes were created, including automobile, water, bicycle, equestrian and mixed routes along the Western Dvina river and the adjoining areas. The funds were also spent on purchasing outdoor sports equipment, equipping five camp sites, establishing travel information centered in the Vitebsk Oblast and Latvia.

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