Posted:
07.02.2025 11:26:41
Increase across the board
The Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister has shared the preliminary results of the hospitality industry
In the tourism sector, preliminary results for the year are being summarised. Over the first ten months of 2024, the export of tourism services increased by 31 percent compared to 2023. Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Oleg Andreichik opened up about the sentiments and metrics that concluded the year for the tourism industry, as well as plans for 2025.
Belagro agricultural trade fairPerformance on the upswing
— Can you tell us what 2024 was like for the industry?
Oleg Andreichik
‘Belarus piques interest across all continents’
— Could you elaborate on the reasons for the optimism?— Recently, we have received two remarkable pieces of news. Firstly, the President extended the visa-free entry to Belarus for citizens from 38 countries in the European Union. The second pleasant and eagerly awaited event is that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the completion of all technical procedures for the enforcement of the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Belarus regarding mutual visa recognition! On January 11th, the agreement between Belarus and Russia on mutual recognition of visas came into force. Now tourists visiting Russia on visas can also come to Belarus, and conversely, guests arriving in our country will be able to travel to Russia. This is crucial because travellers from distant countries — particularly China, India, and the Gulf States — are keen on visiting as many countries as possible in one trip to experience diverse locations.
Saint-Euphrosyne Monastery in Polotsk — What is the current situation regarding the export of tourism services?
— Official statistics will be released later, but preliminary results indicate growth. For instance, over the first ten months of 2024, the export of tourism services increased by 31 percent compared to 2023. During this time, we welcomed tourists from 174 countries, demonstrating that Belarus piques interest across all continents. Notably, this is corroborated by the World Tourism Organisation’s rankings on visitor numbers, published in mid-2023, where we secured the 48th position among 203 countries. This is an impressive achievement, indicating that Belarus is becoming increasingly recognisable globally.
Indeed, we have effectively established collaboration across various fronts, even with European Union countries, thanks to the visa-free regime. On the whole, according to information from the State Border Committee, more than one million citizens of the European Union have visited our country since 2022. The majority of visitors have come from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Estonia, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
We are witnessing significant growth in inbound tourism from the CIS countries: figures for each country have increased by 25-45 percent compared to 2023 — both in terms of export revenue and the number of tourists. There is also positive momentum with the far arc countries. I would particularly highlight China, as tourists from there contributed five million dollars to tourism service exports over the ten months of 2024, which is twice as much as in the previous year.
Mir Castle — an architectural monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage List — Is Russia traditionally in first place?
— That’s correct, the growth in this area is around 20 percent based on the results of the first ten months of 2024. This trend has been consistent over the past three years, and we see that this is not the limit. Thus, in 2019, Belarus was connected by air to nine regions of Russia; now it is connected to 18. According to the Ministry of Economic Development of our eastern neighbour, another 30 regions would like to establish air links between their cities and ours. Meanwhile, railway logistics are also being restored. For example, three Lastochka trains operate between Minsk and Moscow. We are looking forward to the construction of a high-speed line, which will significantly reduce travel time.
In second place for tourism service exports is Türkiye, followed by China in third. I would like to emphasise that our country is attractive and can offer various destinations for tourists, businesspeople, eco-tourism enthusiasts, and those seeking active recreation.
Knights fest in Mstislavl — What are the plans for the development of the tourism industry in 2025?
— We intend to continue developing the calendar of branded events in Belarus — from large-scale national events to smaller regional ones that deserve the attention of a wide audience. We included around 300 events in the national calendar in 2024 and were constantly adding new ones.
Additionally, in 2025, we will continue to dedicate each month to a specific type of tourism. The division will be similar to that of 2024. However, February was once again declared the month of medical and wellness tourism. A swap is envisaged in January and October — in the first month of the year, we focused on religious tourism, and in the tenth month, we will focus on educational tourism. We continue this tradition for good reason: over one million people participated in events promoting various types of tourism (including diverse programmes, quests, and festivals) in 2024. This means it is an additional opportunity to attract tourists, including to rural areas, and sometimes even during the off-season.
Opera and Ballet House is a popular sight in Belarus It’s time to seize opportunities
— What does the regulator expect from 2025?— The world is so dynamic that it is difficult to look too far ahead. Therefore, I will answer in general terms: there are quite a few prospects. First of all, looking at the dynamics of inbound tourism and the latest news, we expect that this year will be successful for this sector. It is important now not to lose time, not to miss out on momentum, but to strive to enhance the promotion of our country’s tourism potential abroad as quickly as possible, to establish contacts with foreign tour operators, including Russian ones, to create a wide range of tour routes for the Union State catering to various interests of travellers.
I believe that the current trend of increased popularity of domestic tourism will also continue. Despite the fact that outbound tourism is gradually gaining momentum, there is a reorientation of demand. Of course, traditional seaside resorts remain at the top. However, interest in trips to CIS countries and Russian regions is growing at a much faster pace — language, price, logistics, and a similar mentality contribute to this. Upon returning, our citizens no longer stay at home as they used to, but seek leisure within their own country as well. We understand that two million organised tourists per year is a significant number. Yet, I would like every resident of Belarus to embark on a journey within their homeland at least once a year. I am confident that primarily the development of domestic tourism and the creation of quality tourism products will enhance our country’s competitiveness in the global market.
By Maria Druk
