TRAVEL consultants from the Republic of Belarus in Eastern Europe have made the long journey to Kidderminster to learn how best to promote tourism in their own country.

Tatiana Paramonova, aged 42, and Olga Novikova, 22, are being mentored by staff at the Co-op Travel Ultra travel branch in Weavers Wharf Retail Park, learning skills which they can put into practice when they return home in late August.

Belarus is a landlocked nation-state bordered by Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine, which is still continuing to recover from the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster more than 20 years ago.

Co-op Travel Ultra, a flagship store of Midcounties Co-op Travel, is playing host to Tatiana and Olga in response to a request by the Vetka Association, a charity which supports schools, hospitals and sustainable developments in the Vetka District of Belarus.

Said Tatiana: "Chernobyl has had a long-term impact on the lives of people in that region. We are trying to help improve the economy of Belarus by promoting tourism to a country which is beautiful and friendly with warm weather throughout most of the year."

Geoff Hurmson, general manager for Midcounties Co-op Travel, added: "While Co-ops are independent, locally owned businesses the Co-op Movement is a global one, and working with international partnerships such as this is central to our values. We are delighted to have Tatiana and Olga with us and to be playing a small part in supporting them to strengthen the economy in Belarus."