A Truth That Is Inconvenient For Lukashenko Has Come To Light
- 29.08.2026, 11:45
The region that the governor championed so strongly is falling into decline.
Belarus recently decided to introduce mandatory five-star hotel certification (which had previously been voluntary). They’ve made the decision, but it seems not all hotels will be able to meet the basic requirements for even one star—water, internet, and TV—as reported by “Solidarnast”.
According to “Vitbichi,” an auction for the sale of state-owned tourist facilities will be held in the region in September.
A total of 12 municipally-owned hotels will be put up for auction: the cheapest motel in Miory is listed for no less than 43,000 Belarusian rubles (about $35,900 at the current exchange rate), while the highest price tag is on a nearly century-old hotel in Postavy—they’re hoping to fetch over 1 million rubles (more than $329,000) for it.
The remaining hotels—mostly dating from the Soviet era—have long been in need of renovation. However, buyers will not be able to change their designated use without the written consent of the district executive committee; instead, they are required to modernize these properties.
“They are not operating efficiently enough,” the regional State Property Committee stated diplomatically.
Officials did not release the figures for public scrutiny. However, according to data from 2025, hotel occupancy in the Vitebsk region stood at 29.7%—one of the lowest in the country, even taking the “Slavianski Bazaar” into account. That, however, hasn’t stopped officials from promising to “take the tourism industry to a whole new level” by the end of the five-year plan.
It seems that local authorities are desperate for “stars,” but there’s no one to make them shine: there simply isn’t any money. But passing the mandatory certification at someone else’s expense? That’s always welcome.
To understand the scale of the crisis in the Vitebsk Region’s tourism sector: as of August 2026, only 13 hotels in the region had been certified, 6 of which were classified as “no stars.” And of the properties currently up for sale, only the municipal hotel operated by the Postavy Housing and Utilities Department has a certificate (also “no-star”).
Essentially, investors are being offered suitcases without handles. After all, even if you invest in modernizing and renovating the rooms, installing reliable internet, training staff, and launching social media campaigns, there’s no guarantee of a return on investment or an influx of guests. This is because tourists need more than just a place to stay; they need infrastructure: places to eat, attractions to visit, and souvenirs and local products to buy.
And while Begoml still has the picturesque ruins of the Church of All Saints, the “Vasilek” butcher shop, and the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is right nearby—when it comes to infrastructure in Senno, even business travelers tell stories, and they’re far from complimentary: restaurants “are hit or miss,” and tourist ratings range from 1.4 to 2.2.
And while sprucing things up just to get a certificate—which comes with endless inspections from all sorts of regulatory agencies—is hardly something many private business owners are eager to do. So it’s highly doubtful that the sale of state-owned hotels will help Vitebsk Region earn more stars.