At the end of November, a seminar entitled "Current Issues of Environmental Security in the Union State" was held in Minsk. During the event, scientists and experts discussed issues of cooperation between the two countries in environmental protection, the interaction of hydrometeorological services, as well as prospects for the development of ecotourism.
Ecotourism is a popular product in Belarus, but the country would like to increase the flow of schoolchildren and students from Russia interested in this type of travel.
"We see natural demand from Russia, hosting groups from Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnodar Krai, Rostov, and Belgorod. However, in recent years, there has been a slight decline in tourist flow. Of course, domestic Russian tourism poses some competition, but the main reason is a lack of awareness of Belarusian eco-programs. We would like this product to be known in Russian educational institutions, so that active teachers who want to send their classes or parents with children on such trips understand that it is possible. The Belarusian tourism platform is accessible and safe; it is not 'abroad,' but, de facto, domestic tourism in Russia. Information support and the work of specialists in this area, as well as political approval, are crucial. We would like to strengthen existing interstate and interregional cooperation on children's and student ecotourism. Perhaps it would be worth creating working groups to develop optimal conditions for schoolchildren and students to travel. We are ready for open dialogue and cooperation," notes the chairman of the republican union of tourism industry, Philip Guly.
He also noted that Belarus's transport accessibility has improved, creating favorable conditions for sending tourist groups.
"Direct flights connecting Belarus with the Urals opened this year, and in July, direct flights will be launched from the Rostov region. Perhaps Tatarstan will join soon as well. This direct service hasn't been available for many years, and now this opportunity has emerged that's worth taking advantage of," added Philip Guly.
Experts believe that Russian-Belarusian ecotourism has great potential, so fruitful cooperation between the two countries in developing this area is essential.
"Today, the ecological component of educational tourism has been integrated into the traditional commercial Belarusian tourism product, something that wasn't the case before. When visiting agro-estates and nature reserves, professional staff are present on excursion routes, explaining Belarusian nature in an interactive format. Such educational trips will not only provide a wealth of impressions but also allow you to take home classical knowledge of zoology, biology, and geography," says Philip Guly.
Note that the number organized tourists and excursionists who visited Belarus in 2016, amounted to 217.4 thousand people. Most of the organized travelers arrived from the Russian Federation (78.7%).
Source: trn-news.ru
