Russia will be represented by 27 regions at the international exhibition and fair of tourist services “Rest 2024”, which is three times more than last year, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said.
The Russian diplomat noted that there is a huge potential between Belarus and Russia in the field of tourism. This is due to many factors – the absence of language and border barriers, the availability of convenient transport infrastructure, as well as the availability of tourist services for the general population.
“Everyone, if desired, can find a suitable budget and interests option for a holiday in Russian resorts or, for example, in health resorts or agricultural estates of the republic,” Gryzlov said.
According to the diplomat, this is especially important in the context of the constant increase in prices for travel abroad, as well as the objective complication and increase in the cost of travel logistics against the background of illegitimate Western sanctions.
According to the ambassador, tourist flows between Russia and Belarus have been growing by 50% annually over the past two or three years. According to statistics, in 2023, 176 thousand Russian guests visited Belarusian sanatorium, wellness and other specialized institutions.
Also, 15 thousand people rested in local farms. In turn, Belarusian tourists have undertaken 247 thousand organized trips to Russia.
“Of course, these figures do not take into account those citizens who decided to relax, as they say, “savage” and took care of the transfer, hotel reservations, etc. And this is more than 5 million Russians and over 400 thousand Belarusians,” Gryzlov stressed.
Union programs in the field of tourism
The Ambassador noted that the development of the activities of the two countries is positively influenced by the union programs. Thus, at the end of 2023, the union program for the unification of legislation in the field of tourism was successfully implemented, a cooperation agreement and a roadmap were concluded.
In addition, at the beginning of 2024, parliamentary hearings were held with the participation of representatives of government agencies and the expert community of the two countries, following which a decision was made to create the first tourist information center of the Union State in Smolensk. According to the diplomat, the issue of expanding the network of such centers, including in Belarus, is being discussed today.
“On April 3, Moscow hosted the first meeting of the Russian-Belarusian Working Group on Tourism Development, which considered our further joint steps, in particular, to promote cross-border tourist routes designed to stimulate the growth of both the tourism business and related areas of transport, hotel, gastronomic and sightseeing services,” Gryzlov said.
Expansion of geography
He also said that today the issue of expanding the geography of regular flights between major cities of Russia and Belarus, as well as the development of direct bus and rail inter-regional communication is on the agenda.
According to the diplomat, as of today, 36 subjects of the Russian Federation have expressed interest in establishing or increasing existing air links with Belarus. Another 13 see it appropriate to expand bus and rail routes.
The opening of the 26th International Exhibition and Fair of tourist services “Rest- 2024” will take place in Minsk on April 18. This year, the Belarusian capital will gather a record number of participants from 12 countries. The exhibition will run until April 20.
