Belarus’ export of tourism services in 2023 at $200m
MINSK, 8 March (BelTA) – According to preliminary
estimates, Belarus’ export of tourism services in 2023 amounted to $200 million,
Director of the Tourism Department of the Sports and Tourism Ministry Irina
Voronovich told BelTA’s The Nation Speaks project.
“I
think that the final figure will be a couple of million higher. We had certain
targets that we were supposed to achieve in line with the state program,” said
Irina Voronovich. Last
year the sector posted growth over 2022, but we were a bit behind in terms of quantitative
indicators. “There are objective reasons for this, and we talk about them on
numerous occasions. People know this. The reasons have to do not only with the internal
situation, but also with developments in the world, like limited flights,” the department
director explained.
According to Irina
Voronovich, Belarus’ tourism industry has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels,
because 2019 was probably the most successful year for the industry. “The
targets for the tourism industry set out in the state program were benchmarked
against that year, therefore it is very difficult to hit these targets. In 2019
the export of tourism services exceeded $264 million,” she noted.
“Nevertheless, there were positive dynamics in 2023, i.e. the industry is
growing in comparison with previous years.”
