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In a small community, there appears to be much more opportunity for the virus to spread suddenly, but the small resort town of Birštonas and its surroundings have been able to avoid COVID-19 during the quarantine. Only another municipality in Lithuania can enjoy this: the Pakruojis district.
“During the quarantine, all accommodation facilities were closed, only the only Versmė sanitarium was operating. It was not easy. There was a challenge. We had no safeguards, but all institutions were in order, prepared to fight COVID-19 properly. Around of 150 people were evaluated in Birštonas, all with negative results. The sanitariums constantly test their employees; fortunately, no one has become ill. We had about 40 inhabitants in self-isolation. We left quarantine with our heads raised. We will continue to be safe “, – the main Coronavirus-related statistics were provided by Mayor N. Dirginčienė.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / Nijolė Dirginčienė
According to her, Birštonas maintains the tradition of offering at least one new object of interest every year.
“Resort guests constantly demand innovation. You could say we pamper them. Since 2013, it has been customary to cut the ribbon every year. Last year, we opened the tallest observation tower in Lithuania. Next June, I hope to open the door to another layer: the sports community: the construction of a multifunctional sports center in Birštonas is promised.
We have received around 3 million euros, as I call it, to fight the virus. That is really a lot of money. As much as 1.1 million. We will use 1,000 million euros for the construction of this sports center. I have shown the authorities that we have another infrastructure: the city lacks a large hall. We hope that camps will be held on this object, we also spoke with the organizers of the Futsal World Championship in Lithuania. We hope that part of the selected trainings will take place in our city. The championship was supposed to take place in Lithuania this year, but was postponed to next year due to a pandemic. If it had taken place this year, we could not have claimed that we became a training base “, – the mayor of Birštonas saw the benefits of quarantine.
Marius Vizbaras / 15min photo / Construction of a multifunctional sports center in Birštonas
He is currently looking for a place for beach soccer and volleyball.
Continuing his speeches on the tallest observation tower in Lithuania, the mayor hinted that a government resolution had recently been received, by which the tower was transferred to the municipality of Birštonas for supervision. You want to introduce an accounting system that records how many visitors visit you. The path leading to the tower is also promised to be paved. Next to it, the café “Tower Terrace” has opened its doors these days, allowing guests of the complex to relax after climbing to the top.
Marius Vizbaras / 15min photo / The tallest observation tower in Lithuania has opened in Birstonas
Abandoned buildings have begun to be managed.
During the quarantine, according to the mayor, many sanatoriums or hotels were dedicated to the internal or external reconstruction of buildings. Four electric vehicle charging stations were built.
“Until then, the guests who came with electric cars asked to charge them by placing a cable through the window of an institution,” the mayor smiled.
The project has also been prepared for the organization of the Škėvonys outcrop: the rotten boards will be replaced by a new track.
The abandoned buildings have also begun to be managed and the greatest pain in the city has begun. The latter stand out in a small tourist town in particular and spoil the overall picture. Here, in the place of the old cinema building, commercial and accommodation venues will appear, and in the place of the laundry building, an apartment building. Other “ghosts” will be replaced by a small private spa, apartments, an old bookstore will be fixed, and a new facility is being designed near Kurhaus.
Behind the pedestrian path along the Nemunas, an abandoned building that once housed the Nida brewery found new owners. These strawberry growers, who run the food carriage, famous for its waffles and cocktails, promise to change the look of the building for the next three years by covering it with a wood cloth and a glass roof. You have already opened your “Summer” terrace, where you can enjoy healthy snacks, French pancakes, cocktails and Pasvaly beer mixed with kvass. This is the closest café to Las Nemunas, overlooking the river, throughout the complex.
“The biggest problem was the lack of accommodation. Several places to live in Birštonas have already appeared. In place of the Druskupis restaurant, modern apartment buildings are emerging near the Eglė sanatorium. One of them is promised to be completed this year. The apartments of the museum are located in the center of the market. It is also gratifying that more than 50 percent. The houses in Birštonas have already been renovated. In July, we will relaunch the competition to Birštonas Gate (planned modern office and house area near the entrance to the complex – past aut.) project. The first contest did not take place. I think we will post again at the right time because we tried teleworking during quarantine, which means word license, and “Birštonas vartai” should be a space for cooperation, “said the mayor.
Marius Vizbaras / 15min photo / Museum team in Birštonas
Photo of UAB A-7 / Birstonas vartai, prepared by UAB A-7, project manager Gintaras Stauskis
It will install 5 mobile springs
According to the mayor of Birštonas, the shipment of Birštonas is reviving. Nemunas in the complex are expected to clear. There are up to 80 places where ships can be docked and docks can be built. The municipality is preparing to install 5 mobile marinas.
“Last year, 7 ships sailed in the Nemunas near Birštonas, we hope there will be more of them this year,” expected N. Dirginčienė. “We promise to ban jet skis, which cause high waves, in the complex.”
It is planned to build cycle lanes to Nemajūnai. Next year, the viaduct over the A16 road should also see the light of day. The municipality has already installed entrances.
In the villages, as promised by the mayor, there will be more educational programs.
Good result: 30 percent. fewer tourists
Rūta Kapačinskaitė, head of the Birštonas Tourist Information Center, admitted that living a tourist city without tourists for 10 weeks is a big challenge. Last year was a record year: about 171 thousand. tourists, and since March 14 of this year, with the announcement of the quarantine in the country, the “great movements” have begun: those who wanted to register for isolation in Birštonas, who traveled directly to the airport. There were also weekend influxes on the Birštonas cognitive trails and forests.
Photo by Marius Vizbaras / 15min / Rūta Kapačinskaitė
“If we end this year with 30 percent. Worse than last year it would be very good. We will emphasize outdoor activities, we want to break the stereotype that Birštonas is only suitable for swimming in indoor pools. You need to remember the base : the healing resources of the complex, including fresh air. We will share it, we will ventilate the lungs, “said R. Kapacinskaitė.
According to her, Birštonas will continue to be dominated by local tourism, but neighboring Latvians are already very attracted to the tallest observation tower in Lithuania.
“Latvians inspect the tower and promise to return to Birštonas in August or September. It is important that the Israeli-German border be opened as soon as possible: these are the main tourists in Birštonas medical institutions. We hope that the Government’s decision to pay the stay of a foreign tourist in Lithuania for the third night will also help, “said the director of the Birštonas Tourist Information Center.
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