15 January 2026, 15:16

National Tourism Agency’s new director sets priorities for sector growth

MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) - Kirill Masharsky, who was appointed by the head of state as head of the National Tourism Agency, outlined how the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow, BelTA has learned.

Kirill Masharsky stressed that over the past six months the Economy Ministry has carried out substantial work to update the regulatory framework for the tourism industry. In addition, a target has been set to increase tourism’s share of GDP to 4.5% by 2030. “We will consistently move toward this result,” he said. “The state program includes plans to modernize the accommodation infrastructure of the resort complex, which will in turn allow us to increase the number of tourists.”

Speaking about how the GDP share is expected to grow, Kirill Masharsky emphasized that the primary driver will be economic efficiency. “The very concept of how tourism is perceived has fundamentally changed. Today, it is clearly seen as an economic sector. In fact, this has always been the case, but now, the tourism industry is being re-evaluated in terms of where and how it can be expanded. The pool of our tourist sites is highlighted, where it is still possible to increase profitability and where something is missing,” he explained.

At the same time, Kirill Masharsky stressed, it is necessary to take into account the wishes of customers and receive feedback: "It is very important for us, even at the initial stage of the agency's operation, to build feedback with the business that is involved in this area. To work in a coordinated manner and understand what is needed."

Kirill Masharsky noted that the task of the agency is, among other things, to take on the role of regulator, controller and executor. "The agency has become the main regulator of the tourism industry. Therefore, we provide all coordination in the tourism direction," he concluded.