MINSK, 29 April (BelTA) – Belarus' travel industry is featured at the 26th edition of Arabian Travel Market event running in Dubai from April 28 to May 1, BelTA learned from Belarus' National Tourism Agency.
Belarus' travel industry has displayed its capacities in various areas: recreation, sightseeing, national parks, MICE (business tourism). Minsk is also touting itself as an international sport venue. The upcoming 2nd European Games due in Minsk on 21-30 June are in focus of Belarus' expo.
On the margins of the Arabian Travel Market event Andrei Molchan, the director of the tourism department at the Sport and Tourism Ministry of Belarus, has already met with the heads of the tourism industries of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, held a series of negotiations, including regarding the investment attractiveness of the hotel industry in Belarus.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has been the leading global event for the Middle East inbound and outbound travel industry for the last 25 years. In 2018, the event drew about 40,000 industry professionals, about 2500 exhibiting companies. ATM 2019 focuses on the hospitality market of Saudi Arabia, hotel business and halal tourism.
According to the Belarusian Statistics Committee, the flow of organized tourists and excursionists from the UAE to Belarus rose from 28 in 2017 to 1,034 visitors in 2018.