On May 22, 2026, the Institute of Economics of the NAS of Belarus held a Unified Information Day on “Trends and Main Directions for Tourism Development in Belarus”

On May 22, 2026, the Institute of Economics of the NAS of Belarus held a Unified Information Day on “Trends and Main Directions for Tourism Development in Belarus”.

The event was opened by Denis MUKHA, Director of the Institute of Economics of the NAS of Belarus, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor. He emphasized the importance of developing the tourism industry for the country’s economy, noting that tourism is becoming a priority for the current five-year plan.

Natalia MOROZOVA, Head of the Department for Service Sector Economy at the Institute of Economics of the NAS of Belarus, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor, presented a report on “Trends and New Directions for Tourism Development in Belarus”.

The report noted that the development of the tourism industry is a powerful driver of economic growth, accounting for approximately 10% of global GDP and employing one in ten workers on the planet. The speaker emphasized that tourism is considered a strategically important sector in Belarus: the industry’s direct contribution to the country’s GDP is approximately 2%, and the goal for the five-year period 2026–2030 is to increase it to 4.5% in accordance with the Social and Economic Development Program of the Republic of Belarus.

Particular emphasis was placed on Belarus’s diverse resources for tourism development: unique forests, over 10,000 lakes, and over 5,500 historical and cultural heritage sites.

Natalia MOROZOVA elaborated on key industry trends, including the growth of domestic tourism, the predominance of Russian tourism in inbound tourism, and the dynamic development of agro-ecotourism, spa and resort tourism, and medical tourism. It was noted that in 2025, 260,000 foreign citizens visited Belarusian health resorts, and the volume of medical services exports increased by 1.5 times.

In conclusion, Natalia MOROZOVA quoted President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who stated that the goal of the five-year plan is to make tourism a national project and to open up the history, culture, and language of Belarus to the world.

The speaker also announced a roundtable discussion on “Tourism Development in the Republic of Belarus as a Priority Area of Socioeconomic Policy” to be held on May 28, 2026.

The presentation sparked a lively discussion among those present. The speaker was asked questions regarding the prospects for event tourism development in the regions, measures to attract foreign tourists from non-CIS countries, and the role of digital technologies in promoting Belarusian tourism. Natalia MOROZOVA provided expert and comprehensive answers to all questions.