Belarus became the leader of the CIS in tourism development, breaking the Western myth about the country’s closure

The decisions taken in the Republic of Belarus to reform public administration in the field of tourism are designed to increase the share of the industry in the country’s GDP to 5% over the next five years. This was stated by the Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Yuri Seliverstov, speaking today, September 28, at the international practical conference of the club of leaders of health tourism “Dialogues of skill”. Experience of sanatorium and resort organizations of Belarus and Russia, reports sb.by.

As part of the modernization of the tourism industry, the republic is actively focused on the Russian experience in strategic planning and implementation of national tourism projects. Particular attention is paid to approaches to assessing the multiplier effect that the tourism industry has on the entire national economy. Yuri Seliverstov stressed that Belarusian-Russian cooperation in the tourism sector allows the state and business to develop common approaches to the strategic development of the industry.

- We have broken the myth created by the West about the closure and isolation of our country. Belarus is among the top three in the ranking of CIS countries for sustainable tourism development, second only to Russia and Azerbaijan. Today, tourists go to Belarus not only for standard excursions, but also for high-quality modern service with an entertainment component, for emotions and impressions, Yuri Seliverstov said.

He noted the growing interest of Belarusian guests to unique authentic routes in the country. In particular, in 2025, more than 470 thousand tourists visited agro-ecoestates of the Republic of Belarus.

- Event tourism is developing: we are happy to welcome guests at the holiday "Alexandria gathers friends", regional festivals, and other bright cultural events. The visa-free regime introduced for participants of the Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk from 71 countries strengthens the image of Belarus as an open, friendly and safe country with a rich cultural heritage. Industrial tourism is no less actively developing: more than 130 Belarusian enterprises are open to visit, which offer familiarity with production processes and interactive master classes, the Ambassador of Belarus to Russia continued.

The diplomat drew special attention to the development of medical tourism: in 2025 it grew by 37%. Residents of 160 countries of the world turned to Belarusian doctors for help, over the past 5 years, the export of medical services has increased by 1.5 times, Yuri Seliverstov cited figures. Digital Tourism Route: Belarus to Launch Smart City Platform by 2027