Business news

MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) – Belarus’ export of tourism services rose by 22.2% in the first half of 2017. The figures were voiced during a meeting of the Tourism Department of the Sports and Tourism Ministry which reviewed the tourism industry performance in H1 2017, BelTA learned from the press service of the ministry.

The tourism development strategy has been defined within the framework of the government program Hospitable Belarus for 2016-2020. The export of tourism services has been determined as the key target of the program. The export totaled $82.6 million in the first half of 2017 (up by 22.2% as against the same period last year).

Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi stressed that all the regions and the majority of ministries, committees, concerns and organizations made contribution towards reaching the target. It was also noted that there are still a lot of problems and each of them requires serious consideration, analysis and solution. According to the deputy minister, the service quality is not great at the moment and the promotion of Belarus’ tourism potential on the international market lacks momentum.

The short-term priorities include the implementation of the government program Hospitable Belarus and the action plan for engaging and working with foreign tourists ahead and during the Second European Games 2019 in Minsk, development of an action plan for Belarus-China Year of Tourism in 2018 and training of qualified personnel for tourism industry.

In conclusion, Mikhail Portnoi noted that the key target is to raise the tourism industry to a qualitatively new level and to enhance the contribution of the hospitality industry to the economic growth of the country.