Business news

MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) – Export of services of Belarusian health resorts increased by over 10% in January-September 2018 as compared to the same period a year before, Gennady Bolbatovsky, director of the Belarusian national center of health resort treatment and recuperation, told the media on 25 September, BelTA has learned.

“The export totaled over Br146 million in January-September 2018. Since the beginning of the year, Belarusian health resorts has provided healthcare services to 175,000 foreigners, which was 8,000 visitors more over January-September last year. In the past five years, we have seen an increase both in money terms and the number of visitors,” Gennady Bolbatovsky said.

According to him, the geography of visitors is also expanding. “We attribute this to visa facilitation among other things. We have seen an increase in the demand among visitors from our western neighbors (the Baltic countries, Poland, Germany),” the director stressed.

Revenue from sale of healthcare services rose by 20% in January-September to total Br322 million. The sale of vouched amounted to 465,000. Moreover, the revenue from the sale of additional paid services rose by 46% and totaled Br65.5 million. “In January-September the average rate in a Belarusian health resort totaled Br53 per day. It rose by about 3.5% as compared to December 2017,” Gennady Bolbatovsky noted.

"We expect the prices to decrease slightly on the back of the reduced demand in Q4. The packages for the New Year holidays are almost sold. The health centers are 80% booked for October and 70% for November," he said.

The prices for the services purchased by the Belarusian national center of health resort treatment and recuperation in open tenders at the expense of the national budget and state social insurance fund remain unchanged throughout the year. The rate is Br34 per day, up by 4.8% over the previous year.

In January-September 2018 the occupancy rate of the Belarusian health centers was more than 80%. It reached 100% in the summer season. Belarus’ system of health and spa resorts includes 106 health resorts with the 28,500 bed space and 200 health-promoting organizations with the 37,500 bed space.

The Belarusian national center of health resort treatment and recuperation has already announced tenders for the purchase of services for 2019.