Religious sites are likely to arouse interest among tourists after their renovation – as noted by Darya Shibeko, a consultant at the Department of Planning and Organisation of Tourist Activities of the Sports and Tourism Ministry, sb.by reports
According to Ms. Shibeko, work is currently underway in the republic on the reconstruction and restoration of a number of facilities that can have a significant impact on the development of religious tourism in Belarus. “These include the Holy Dormition Zhirovichi Monastery and the St. Euphrosyne Convent. After the revamping, they will become even more attractive to tourists and be included in a greater number of excursion routes,” she said.
Some facilities were put into business in 2024, and the Sports and Tourism Ministry believes they will be involved in the tourist turnover in the near future.
“The Volozhin Yeshiva is one of the most striking examples. At the end of 2024, its museum exposition, which is a cultural and educational platform, became available to visitors,” Ms. Shibeko noted. “The exposition is a branch of the Volozhin Museum of Local Lore. The yeshiva building provides space for exhibitions, business conferences, and briefings. There is also a 3-room hotel here. This is a ready tourist facility, and we hope an increasing number of operators will include it in their programmes and routes.”
The expert emphasised that Belarusian clergymen are open to interaction with tourist operators and government representatives, and a tourist information centre in Novogrudok may act as an example in this regard. “An unusual project – Night Mystery. Dominicans of Novogrudok – was launched in 2024 together with the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. The tour is organised in the evening and is very popular among tourists, as it enables them to plunge into the atmosphere of history and mystery,” Ms. Shibeko noted.