Belarus is changing the terms of loans for agritourism operators, while rural guest houses located far from major population centers will be allowed to pay a special fee instead of a tax. This is provided for by the decree “On the Development of Agrotourism,” signed today by Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
The document approves the Regulation on the procedure for carrying out activities to provide services in the field of agrotourism.
Preferential lending by Belagroprombank to agrotourism operators will be extended for an unlimited period. Lending limits are being abolished. The terms of loan agreements will be extended from five to seven years for agricultural organizations and from seven to 10 years for individuals.
Owners of rural guest houses located far from major population centers will be able to pay a special fee instead of a tax. The fee has been set at 45 rubles since Jan. 1, 2026. Currently, only rural guest houses that have received a corresponding decision from a local executive committee can pay the fee, while the others must pay the tax on professional income.
The regulation also allows rural guest houses to have more than 15 bedrooms and expands the list of services they may provide.
It should be recalled that in 2022, the rules governing rural guest houses were tightened: owners were made responsible for violations of public order by visitors, and corporate events and banquets were banned near neighboring residential buildings.
Owners are required to obtain permission to operate from district executive committees. The number of rural guest houses has fallen sharply. As of December 2023, only 1,297 of 3,043 guest houses had completed re-registration. In the Braslaw district alone, according to 2024 data, only five of 300 rural guest houses remained.
