{"id":200373,"date":"2026-08-18T19:31:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/200373\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T19:31:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:31:12","slug":"lukasenka-approves-measures-to-revive-rural-tourism","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/200373\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka approves measures to revive rural tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

August 18, <\/strong>Pozirk<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has signed an edict aimed at stimulating the development Belarus\u2019 rural tourism industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the edict, Belagraprambank will prolong its low-interest loan program for rural tourism businesses for an indefinite period of time, \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The edict would abolish loan caps for the rural tourism industry and extend the duration of loan agreements from five to seven years for agricultural organizations and from seven to 10 years for individuals, the press office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The owners of rural tourism villas in the provinces, situated far from large cities, would be eligible for a special duty, 45 rubels ($16) as of January 1, as an alternative to tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of residential rooms a rural tourism villa may have will be increased to 15, and the list of possible services will be expanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Statistics Committee (Bie\u0142stat),  Belarus had 1,441 rural tourism businesses in 2025, and  472,500 people used their services, including 449,500 citizens of Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of such businesses reportedly fell 2.2-fold in 2024 against 2021, with the number of clients dropping by 24.1 percent to 427,581.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus\u2019 once-thriving rural tourism industry went into a decline after business owners, accused of running their villas as \u201chotels and restaurants\u201d without paying applicable taxes, were stripped of many of their privileges by \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s October 2022 edict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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