Culture Ministry names top travel trends in Belarus

MINSK, 21 May (BelTA) – Belarusian Culture Minister Marat Markov met with the staff of the Belarusian State Choreographic Gymnasium-College during the Unified Information Day, BelTA has learned.

The theme of the Unified Information Day was the latest trends and development of tourism. Marat Markov noted that Belarus is a unique country with the potential to attract many tourists from around the world. “Unfortunately, today tourism accounts for only 2% of Belarus’ GDP. This is quite low, given that the global average for tourism’s contribution to GDP is around 10%. Around 10% of the world’s workforce is employed in this industry. Accordingly, we still have a lot of room for growth. While it stands at 2% now, we aim to increase it to at least 4.5% by the end of 2030, and up to 5% of GDP by 2040,” Marat Markov stated. “Belarus has a unique appeal that can captivate many countries. Not only do we offer visa-waiver program for citizens of nearly 80 countries, but we also have truly exceptional and unique attractions to see. We rank quite high in the CIS, trailing only Russia and Azerbaijan in terms of tourist appeal. Furthermore, the demand for domestic tourism in Belarus is two to three times higher than the average across the CIS nations.”

The culture minister asked the audience which tourist destinations they were familiar with. Listeners named Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Mir and Nesvizh castles, the local lakes, and the Olmany swamps. “This is truly a unique natural landmark, which is often viewed abroad as the most distinctive feature of Belarus. Indeed, there are places in our country that cannot be found in many other nations. Generally, when people visit Belarus, they are amazed to learn that around 45% of our territory is covered by forests. While we take this completely for granted, it is truly extraordinary to many outsiders,” he added.

Speaking about cultural tourism, Marat Markov emphasized that Belarus is home to more than 5,500 historical and cultural heritage sites, which always attract tourists. “Over the past five years, our export of services has nearly doubled. The influx of international tourists has grown fivefold. Domestic tourism is also developing rapidly, with an average of about 2 million people using its services. They travel across the country, both in organized and independent groups. I think each of you has been involved in this in one way or another,” the culture minister said.

“There are several key trends concerning Belarus. For instance, health and wellness tourism, which is closely linked with medical tourism. Over the past five years, an average of about 170,000 people from 160 countries have been coming here annually for medical treatment, ranging from organ transplants to dental care. The latter is particularly popular because it is approximately ten times cheaper here. Naturally, the quality remains remarkably high,” Marat Markov noted. “Industrial tourism is also highly popular, with around 140 enterprises offering guided tours. BelAZ is the top destination because it offers a spectacular experience. People love taking photos next to a wheel that is three times their height, or even going for a ride in a BelAZ truck. This service is available. If anyone is unaware, you can simply visit, and try it out, provided you have a driver’s license. Moreover, you get to ride an electric BelAZ, not just a conventional one. Our food processing plants and confectionery factories are also very fond of organizing such tours – especially the zefir factory in Bobruisk. It is fascinating to see how zefir is made.”

Marat Markov also highlighted the appeal of religious tourism in the country. “Belarus has a significant number of unique buildings and places of worship that attract tourist attention. Among them are the Transfiguration Church and the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk, the Kalozha Church in Grodno, and the Saint Nicholas Monastery Complex. I believe everyone should visit the Kalozha Church at least once,” the culture minister stressed. “People also actively choose agritourism – they simply visit a rural estate and relax. Surprisingly, it is in very high demand, and roughly 95% of visitors to such establishments are Russians. They enjoy vacationing in Belarus because it is quiet, peaceful, and delicious.”