MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – Export of tourism services in Belarus will hit a record high in 2024, BelTA learned from Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk before a meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers on 18 December.
According to him, export of tourism services will hit a record high in 2024. "Despite the sanctions, a significant number of foreign citizens cometo us. I think this happens thanks to the decision of the head of state to expand the visa-free travel program. Health resort business makes 49% of tourism services export, while hotel business accounts for 30%," the minister said.
The largest flow of tourists arrives from Russia. Belarus also develops its cooperation with China. "We used to have one flight from Beijing a week. Nowadays, we have also launched flights to Urumqi. Starting from 28 December, we will launch one more flight [to China's Xi'an]," Sergei Kovalchuk pointed out.
"Tourism is a very important industry for the country. We are considering issues of concern to our citizens in this sector and measures need to be taken to boost export of tourism services. We will look for new points of growth, which will help the economy to receive even more funds. We will discuss what needs to be done in transportation, motorway service, hotel business to make the quality of services even better," he said.
According to him, export of tourism services will hit a record high in 2024. "Despite the sanctions, a significant number of foreign citizens cometo us. I think this happens thanks to the decision of the head of state to expand the visa-free travel program. Health resort business makes 49% of tourism services export, while hotel business accounts for 30%," the minister said.
The largest flow of tourists arrives from Russia. Belarus also develops its cooperation with China. "We used to have one flight from Beijing a week. Nowadays, we have also launched flights to Urumqi. Starting from 28 December, we will launch one more flight [to China's Xi'an]," Sergei Kovalchuk pointed out.
"Tourism is a very important industry for the country. We are considering issues of concern to our citizens in this sector and measures need to be taken to boost export of tourism services. We will look for new points of growth, which will help the economy to receive even more funds. We will discuss what needs to be done in transportation, motorway service, hotel business to make the quality of services even better," he said.
The minister emphasized a lack of hotel rooms. "There are settlements with great tourism potential, Grodno for example, but there are not enough hotel rooms. There is a lack of hotel rooms in the capital during large events. The same applies to Brest and Vitebsk Oblast. We need to focus on the construction and improvement of the hotel stock. We also need to develop motorway service," Sergei Kovalchuk stressed.
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