Business news

MOSCOW, 14 March (BelTA) – Belarus presented its tourism potential in Moscow. A special display of the Belarusian travel industry was held at the Business and Cultural Center of the Belarusian embassy in Russia on 13 March, BelTA has learned.

Yuri Yaroshevich, Minister Counselor at the Belarusian embassy in Moscow stressed in his opening speech that Russian tourists show big interest in different travel opportunities in Belarus. “Over the past year a lot has been done to boost travel business in the country. Not long ago the country introduced five-day visa-free visits for citizens of 80 countries. Earlier, visa-free trips were launched to Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Augustow Canal. Our high hopes, of course, are on tourists from Russia,” he said.

Taking part in the presentation were representatives of the Belarusian National Tourism Agency, oblast executive committees, big Belarusian travel agencies, hotels, spa resorts, and national parks from all the Belarusian regions and Minsk. Belarus showcased its potential in organizing recuperation and recreation services, including spa resorts, excursions, medical and heritage tourism.

The event was organized by the Belarusian Sports and Tourism Ministry in cooperation with the Belarusian embassy in Russia.

According to the National Statistics Committee, in 2016 Belarus was visited by 171,100 people as tourist groups from Russia. Russian travelers stayed in Belarus for five days on average. Belarus maintains close cooperation with the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and also Moscow, Smolensk, Yaroslavl, Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov and Tula Oblasts. Russian tourists come to Belarus to see history-related monuments, architecture, art, and nature, get familiar with the country's ethnic traditions and modern life. Russian travelers enjoy Belarusian eco farmsteads and spa resorts most of all.