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Belarus sees surge in tourist arrivals from Russia in 2022

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MINSK, 27 December (BelTA) – As a result of the Western sanctions, Belarus has become one of the most popular travel destinations for Russian tourists. Russian travelers came in their droves to Belarus in 2022, said Filipp Guly, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Union of the Tourism Industry.

According to him, the fact that Belarus is back on Russian travelers’ radars is a great achievement. “A new trend is the arrival of young tourists from Russia. They seek a big city vibe, high-end accommodation. Moreover, they are now coming to Belarus not only for weekends, but also for a longer time - for up to 10 days. We are able to meet all the needs of Russian tourists,” Filipp Guly said.

In January-October 2022, about 393,000 tourists from Russia visited Belarus (excluding those who arrived through land borders). In 2022 the export of tourism services to Russia amounted to $119 million, which is twice as much compared to the last year.

Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister of Belarus Oleg Andreichik noted that not only Belarus has become a top destination for Russian tourists, but also Russia for Belarusian travelers. “We see an increase in demand for tours to the Russian Federation, and not only to St. Petersburg and Moscow, but also to other cities. Now many travel destinations are opening up in Russia,” the deputy minister said.

The promotion of mutual tourism is facilitated not only by the common language and the possibility to use common financial instruments (payment cards), but also by developed transport infrastructure. Therefore, even now, in the run-up to New Year, there is a traditional increase in tourist arrivals from Russia and Belarus.

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