Over 130 enterprises develop industrial tourism in Belarus, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Oleg Andreichik during an international seminar on industrial tourism.
According to the deputy sports and tourism minister, industrial tourism develops rapidly in Belarus. “At present over 130 enterprises and organizations promote this kind of tourism. They have a certain base, accomplishments, and motivation to develop this kind of tourism. Over 200,000 people visited industrial tourism sites last year. It exceeded the number of tourists registered in 2022 by virtually a third,” Oleg Andreichik said.
The official went on saying: “The very structure, the very attitude to this kind of tourism have been changing recently. In the past industrial tourism focused more heavily on career guidance. At present we see that two components are developing. First of all, industrial tourism for educational purposes. These days virtually all the industrial facilities can arrange some master classes, demonstrate manufacturing practices, invite people to participate in the process. The second component is as important: promotion of goods such as souvenirs, samplings, and so on.”
A lot of attention is paid to industrial tourism in Belarus at the government level. A working group on industrial tourism has been set up. It is part of the interagency expert and coordination council under the Council of Ministers. A roadmap on the development of industrial tourism is being implemented. A new law on tourism came into effect on 1 January 2023. In particular, it allowed workers of industrial enterprises to act as guides without certification.
An international seminar on industrial tourism took place at the Belarusian tractor factory MTZ. Representatives of the Sports and Tourism Ministry, the Industry Ministry, representatives of the tourism industry of Belarus and Russia, other people took part in it. An exhibition of enterprises that practice industrial tourism was arranged at MTZ premises as part of the seminar. A tour of the MTZ museum and manufacturing premises was also arranged for participants of the seminar. A roundtable session on the development of industrial tourism in the Union State of Belarus and Russia was part of the program.
