OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2010. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has authorized agricultural organizations to engage in agro-ecotourism by his ordinance #614.

“Under the document, not only individuals and farm enterprises will be able to offer agro-ecotourism services, but also agricultural organizations involved in production and/or processing farm produce, in which revenues from sale of produce account for more than 50% of total revenues,” the press service of the president said.

The document doubles the number of rooms in agro-eco-estates allowed to accommodate visitors to 10.

The document also authorizes JSC  Belagroprombank to loan up to 2,000 base units to entities engaged in agro-ecotourism for up to five years (seven years for individuals) under an annual interest rate of 5%. The bank will receive compensations for its losses from the republican budget at a rate equal to half of the refinancing rate of the central bank plus one percentage point.

In 2009, 884 entities provided agro-ecotourism services in Belarus. The number of tourists visiting such facilities rose 80% on the year to 70,000 people.