When asked about the prospects for new local festivals, Andrei Kastyuk recalled that the protected natural areas have strict regulations. According to him, large-scale events can only be held in specially designated recreational zones of the national parks or in areas specified in the management plans of nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

The speaker noted that, in addition to the well-known Sporovsky scything festival and Cranes and Cranberries festival there is also Osveya Dews, an eco-festival in the National Landscape Reserve Osvyeysky, and The Dragon’s Path, the festival of Slavic mythology in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve.

Andrei Kastyuk shared the plans for the autumn: «I’ll let you in on a little secret: Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is gearing up to launch Zubr Fest [Bizon Fest]. It will be a new international family eco-festival that will last several days. It is planned to be held in September,» Andrei Kastyuk noted.Andrei Kastyuk explained that the funds generated from tourism are mainly directed toward conservation activities, strengthening the infrastructure, developing infrastructure, visitor centers, information centers, and virtual tours. «That is, you can put on virtual reality goggles and immerse yourself in the nature of the reserve while staying indoors. It’s a pretty convenient thing,» the speaker said.