Russia seeks exchange of experience with Belarus in industrial tourism

“A year ago we started interaction with our colleagues from Belarus. It was the first international forum on industrial tourism, held in Kemerovo Oblast, Kuzbass. Belarus presented its practices of industrial tourism development. We got really interested in the systematic approach that such enterprises as BelAZ and MTZ have. They have developed methodological materials and created a tourist product,” Olga Shandurenko said.

According to her, now it is time to expand, share, exchange experience in this area. “Today our delegation includes leaders in industrial tourism, enterprises which have industrial tourism centers, representatives of Russian regions, which are actively developing industrial tourism. We are ready not only to share our experience but also to adopt the experience of Belarus,” she emphasized.

“I think our joint work will result in the development of a common methodological platform where we will communicate, share the best practices in industrial tourism, as well as a common information field, which will be the basis for building industrial routes,” the director said. “We have a shared history of industry, common goals and objectives. This certainly can become the basis for interesting routes with visits to enterprises.”

In turn, Director General of MICE Market, operator of the All-Russian Industrial Tourism Accelerator Sergei Ryzhov said: “Today we will talk about opportunities for Belarusian enterprises in Russia to exchange experience, internship programs, centers of competence, which can be visited, viewed and build business partnerships.”

According to him, the Russian central regions, where business agglomeration is well developed, are interested in cooperation with Belarus. “There is also interest in Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Kemerovo regions. There are many enterprises there, representatives of which are ready to travel outside Russia, study new technologies, find partners in other countries,” he said.

The international seminar Industrial Tourism as a Brand and Strategy took place at Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ) on 12 March. Attending it were representatives of the Sports and Tourism ministry, Industry Ministry, representatives of the tourism industry of Belarus and the Russian Federation. The exposition of enterprises engaged in industrial tourism was organized on the MTZ exhibition area. Excursions to the MTZ Museum Industrial Center of Labor Glory and to the production facilities were offered to the participants of the seminar. The program also included a round table on the development of industrial tourism in the Belarus-Russia Union State.