Nikolai Snopkov and Kirill Masharsky
MINSK, 19 January (BelTA) – First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov introduced the new head of the National Tourism Agency, Kirill Masharsky, to the staff of the agency and outlined updated objectives for the sector’s development, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko approved Kirill Masharsky’s appointment as the agency’s director on 15 January. The tourism industry is currently undergoing a transformation, with the goal of increasing its contribution to GDP to 4.5% by 2030.
Nikolai Snopkov highlighted the significant potential of the hospitality industry and the director’s focus on achieving tangible results. The government, he noted, will provide full support to the team. It is essential, he stressed, that the agency be staffed by professionals who understand the processes and can realize the country’s tourism potential.
“Tourism encompasses 55 types of economic activity. Without intersectoral coordination and interconnectedness, development will be difficult,” said Nikolai Snopkov. “A great deal of work has been done to build a new architecture. We abolished the Tourism Department and elevated the status of the agency to report directly to the government. We have established a vertical management structure, reformatted tourist information centers, and designated responsible officials in regional and district executive committees.”
According to the first deputy prime minister, the focus must now shift to fine-tuning the system. “Your task is to define a long-term philosophy and ideology for the development of the tourism industry, i.e. what will attract people to Belarus in the future, what we can offer the world, and what makes us distinctive,” he stated.
He identified a second key task as finding partners to address immediate challenges, actively engaging with the regions, continuously improving competencies, and raising the level of professionalism across the sector.
“We have no right to perform poorly. Through this industry, we can transform the economy and the face of the country,” emphasized Nikolai Snopkov, adding that achieving these goals requires consolidating the efforts of all stakeholders and continuing to develop institutions and a regulatory framework. A draft decree currently under review will define approaches to supporting tourism infrastructure and regional development.
“We need to once again examine whether we have done everything correctly and whether our measures are sufficient,” said Nikolai Snopkov, before wishing the team success in reaching their objectives.
Kirill Masharsky, in turn, assured he would do everything to justify the trust put in him. “We are ready for new initiatives and proposals. Bon voyage!” he remarked.
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