Representatives of the Russian tourism industry visited Belarus

The program included sightseeing tours of Minsk and Grodno, the Khatyn Memorial and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, castles in the World and Nesvizh, the National Art Museum, the Mini Country Museum, as well as an introduction to the sanatorium and hotel facilities. The final was the presentation of certificates confirming the specialization of the participants in the Belarusian direction.

In total, the delegation included 12 people from different regions of Russia - from Kazan and Perm to Moscow and Yekaterinburg. 

"Belarus has become a discovery for me. I've never sold this line - I just didn't have enough information to interest my clients," said Aigul Faskhutdinova from Kazan. - Now, having seen everything with my own eyes, I know exactly how to introduce Belarus to tourists. This is an inexpensive and rich destination at the same time. Khatyn and castles were especially impressed - such places do not leave anyone indifferent. Already during the tour, clients wrote to me, asking about Minsk, prices for summer and New Year, how to stay at a hotel in Mir Castle. I think we should definitely go here. I even told my husband, "The next trip is with you." Moreover, we have a direct weekly flight from Minsk."

Another participant of the tour is Elena Shalneva from Yekaterinburg. She considers Belarus an ideal destination for "intellectual tourism." "This is a country for those who love history, architecture, who value meaning and memory, not just the beach and shopping. You feel at home here: friendly and open-minded people, our maps work, there is no language barrier, it is quiet and spacious, without fuss and traffic jams. I would recommend the tour to teachers, historians, and doctors who are "40 plus" people. For those who like to travel thoughtfully, Belarus is a real godsend. I was especially impressed by the National Art Museum - it's just a fairy tale! Castles and castle complexes are also amazing. But there are still many places that we did not have time to visit - for example, Polotsk, Brest, Belovezhskaya Pushcha," shared Elena Shalneva.

Yulia Filatova, the head of a travel agency from Moscow, admitted that for her Belarus has become the 61st country she has visited and one of the most emotional trips. "Minsk is clean, cozy, modern. The castles of Mir and Nesvizh are like from a movie. Khatyn was moved to tears - the most emotional day of the tour. For Muscovites, this is a budget destination, while the service, culture and goodwill of people are at a high level. The only thing missing was the tasting of the national cuisine, although we tried the draniki! It would be great to organize a food tour with tastings of Belarusian dishes - this is also part of the cultural code," Yulia Filatova noted.

Natalia Umanovskikh from Izhevsk also drew attention to the lack of information, advertising and presentations. "We knew about Minsk and Belovezhskaya Pushcha, but we had no idea that we could put together a full-fledged tour. Now the image of the country has changed dramatically. There is no direct flight connection, but a small connection in Moscow is exhausting - the journey takes only half a day. For those who want to change the picture, see a new country, reboot, Belarus is perfect. It's also a great alternative to Russian sanatoriums, both in terms of quality and price." 

Belarusian Advent has become a practical training for travel agents. Every day, the participants not only inspected the facilities, but also held thematic seminars.: on sanatorium treatment, organization of FIT tours, development of military-patriotic and sightseeing tourism.

The organizers note that the interest of Russian tourists in Belarus is growing, but regional agents are still not familiar with the destination. Deputy Director of Trakt Group Buy (Osterweg Group of Companies) Oleg Romanenko said that after such trips, a tourist product opens up through personal experience and emotions. "In 2026, we plan to launch more than eight programs, from radial Minsk vacations to circular tours across the country: from Gomel to Brest, from Mogilev to Grodno," Oleg Romanenko said.

Following the results of the Belarusian Advent, the participants have already received the first customer requests for week-long tours of the country, medical visits to sanatoriums, and short weekend tours.

"We are grateful to our colleagues who have done everything possible to reduce the cost of the infotour," said Philippe Gulyi, Chairman of the Management Board of RSTI. - It is especially important that this time it was attended by travel agents working on departure, and not by host companies, regional museums or third-party organizations not related to outbound distribution. This allows us to receive real feedback from specialists who generate demand and communicate directly with tourists."