Press releases

BREST, 24 June (BelTA) – The idea to set up the Belarusian-Polish Tourism Chamber was discussed at a roundtable in Brest on 24 June with the participation of Belarusian and Polish tour operators, BelTA has learned.

The idea was voiced by Counselor with the Embassy of Belarus in Poland Eduard Shvaiko. In his words, some members of the Polish delegation have working experience in such chambers with other countries, in particular with Ukraine. “There will be necessary at least 20-30 representatives from every side. It can be representatives of the travel industry, hotels, museums, other cultural establishments. We should hold a foundation meeting later in order to choose the authorities. It can be one of the efficient mechanisms of further development of cooperation in tourism,” the diplomat said.

In his words, the presentation of the Belarusian-Polish Tourism Chamber could be held in Grodno in autumn, during a big bilateral meeting to discuss the use of the Augustow Canal, or during tourism fairs in Minsk and other cities. The press tour for representatives of the Polish mass media and travel companies is organized by the Embassy of Belarus in Warsaw in cooperation with the National Tourism Agency and regional authorities. The delegation has comprised 15 people. The program of the trip has been organized taking into account the wishes of the Polish side. “We have made an emphasis on the Belarusian Polesie. It is a unique part of Belarus, with its special culture, traditions, rich natural potential. We hope that this trip initiated by Polish toru operators will give results,” Eduard Shvaiko said.

According to head of the sport and tourism department of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Nikolai Glushenya, in 2014 the oblast was visited by 186,000 foreigners, up 30,000 people from 2013. Among them were 5,900 Poles that come to see Brest Oblast separately and only 590 tourists as part of organized groups from Poland. “I hope that this press tour will you see something new since a lot has been done in the region to improve the tourism infrastructure. We are ready to hear your wishes and proposals, we are ready for a dialogue in order to attract tourists and increase the mutual tourist flow,” Nikolai Glushenya said.

On 24 June the guests visited Brest Fortress and its museums. On 25 June they are expected to visit the museum and the farmstead in Drogichin District. In the agro-town of Motol, Ivanovo District representatives of the Polish media and travel industry will be shown the museums of bread, folk art and ethnography. In Pinsk Polish representatives will be taken on a tour around the city. On 26 June the guests will visit Gomel Oblast.