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MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) – Based on data published by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), Russia predicts stable demand for vacations in Belarus, BelTA has learned.
The association noted that Belarus was the number one destination among neighboring countries in 2025 and the industry expects this status to be maintained in 2026. However, this stable demand faces potential hurdles from higher tour prices and new regulations.
Tour operators have mixed estimates for tour sales to Belarus last year: some companies recorded significant growth (up to 40%), while others report a slight decline or figures comparable to 2024.
Some companies, such as ALEAN, Delfin, and the aggregator sletat.ru, reported significant growth of 25-35% in the excursion tour segment in 2025 over 2024. They attribute this growth to an expanded range of tourist products, more eventful programs, and a shift in tourist interest from traditional hotel stays to full-fledged excursion tours, especially on holidays.
The hotel and spa segments showed more moderate growth. Russian Express noted stable interest in 4-5-star hotels and an overall increase in group hotel bookings, while Multitour, ALEAN, and sletat.ru reported a moderate 5-15% increase in spa tour bookings.
Operators FUN&SUN and Coral Travel noted stable interest in the destination overall, while Intourist reported a 10% decline in demand evenly across excursions, hotels, and spa vacations.
Since 20 January, children under 14 can travel from Russia to Belarus only with a valid international passport. Experts predict this rule could lead to a 10-15% decline in sales in the coming months compared to the same period last year, especially for tours with imminent departures. The excursion tour segment, which traditionally attracts many school groups, is considered the most vulnerable. The travel industry agrees this decline is likely temporary, noting that Belarus traditionally attracts more adult tourists focused on spa treatments and excursions, while the share of families with children among tourists is rather small.
ATOR states that the long-term foundation for demand rests on transport accessibility, affordable prices, a rich excursion program, and attractive resorts. Excursion tours are actively booked for June through August, while the largest number of resort bookings for 2026 are for January, February, and March. Tour sales are deep, with packages being purchased until November.
The market is seeing a steady trend toward moderate but widespread price increases across all key segments. In response, Belarusian sanatoriums are actively introducing new treatment programs and improving accommodations to maintain competitiveness among price rises.
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