The Year of Native Land will become the year of town development and protecting the cultural heritage in Polotsk, Chairman of the Polotsk Town Council Vladimir Tochilo told BelTA.  

Polotsk is a cradle of the Belarusian statehood and culture. The Polotsk land should become more beautiful and richer so that a greater number of people (not only in Belarus) will consider it as their native land.

The implementation of Polotskís development programme designed for the period until 2012 will contribute to this, Vladimir Tochilo noted. The town will continue developing the utilities sector. More than 60 streets will be renovated. A maternity home and a rowing centre are expected to be constructed in Polotsk.

Polotsk intends to perpetuate the memory of the people who glorified their native land. Local sculptors continue developing a monument to medieval architect Joann who constructed the Church of Our Saviour and the Transfiguration of Our Lord. The monument is expected to be erected in summer 2009. The town will continue renovating other monuments of history and culture as well. According to Vladimir Tochilo, Polotsk locals, residents of the Polotsk region and Novopolotsk take an active part in implementation of Polotskís development programme. 

The long-term development programme will allow the Polotsk authorities to intensify efforts in such areas as construction, transport and tourism. By 2012, the year of the 1150th anniversary of Polotsk, the town should become the major tourist centre of Belarus which will be able to receive about 3 million tourists a year. More than Br190 billion is expected to be assigned for implementation of the programme.