Republic
10 March 2021
Over 100,000 foreign guests in Belarusian health resorts in 2020
MINSK, 10 March (BelTA) – Belarus' export of health services reduced last year amid the coronavirus pandemic and related measures, Gennady Bolbatovsky, the director of the Belarusian national center of health resort treatment and recuperation, told the media on 9 March, BelTA has learned.
“Yet the statistics is not so bad. Last year more than 100,000 international guests used the services of Belarusian health centers. The figure was 242,000 in 2019. Revenues decreased by 55% and amounted to more than Br95 million. Of course, the dynamics is not good but closed borders did not bode well for exports,” he said.
Mostly Belarusian health resorts received foreign guests in the first and third quarters of last year. In other periods they could not reach us because of closed borders and irregular transport. But during the New Year holidays we had the maximum possible occupancy - more than 80% thanks to our foreign customers. They were allowed across the border upon presentation of vouchers, Gennady Bolbatovsky informed.
Even today Belarusian health resorts have 800 to 1,000 foreign guests every day, Gennady Bolbatovsky added.
Boosting export is still a pressing task. "We see delayed demand for this type of service. If the epidemiological situation improves, we will see the increased flow of guests not only from the east but also from the western direction," he concluded.
More than 90% of foreigners who have chosen Belarus as a recuperation destination are citizens of the Russian Federation. They prefer Belarusian health resorts due to the price/quality ratio. Therefore, Russian guests are extremely important for the Belarusian market of recreational services, and Belarusian health resorts have high hopes for the full restoration of transport service with the neighboring state.
Prices for vouchers are almost the same as last year and ever lower as against December. Now a voucher with accommodation in a standard double room costs Br63.7.
Belarus news (BELTA)
