Belarusians are increasingly traveling abroad and becoming more visible guests in tourism markets
Belarusian travelers have appeared increasingly often on international tourism routes in recent years, and official statistics indicate that their travel abroad continued to recover even after the disruptions caused by the pandemic, changes in air transport, and stricter visa regimes toward part of Europe. According to the latest announcement by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, in 2025 the number of organized outbound tourists and excursionists from Belarus amounted to 736.4 thousand people. The same source states that the average length of stay of Belarusian citizens abroad was eight days, showing that these were not only short cross-border departures, but also classic tourist trips. There were 1,255 organizations operating in the country’s tourism sector, and their services were used by a total of 3.5 million organized tourists and excursionists. Such indicators confirm that Belarus, despite the restrictions shaping transport and visa flows, is once again becoming more strongly involved in the international tourism market.
Growth in organized travel and longer stays abroad
Official Belstat data are important because they cover organized travel through travel agencies and related service providers, so they do not show the entire movement of the population, but they clearly show the direction of demand. In 2025, according to the statistical committee’s announcement, 2.2 million citizens of Belarus traveled within the country as part of tours, with the vast majority related to one-day tourist trips and excursions. At the same time, the number of organized departures abroad reached 736.4 thousand, making Belarusians an increasingly relevant group for destinations that traditionally depend on regional markets, but also for those that want to diversify demand beyond the largest outbound countries. For hotels, resort destinations, travel agencies, and airlines, the figure on the average eight-day stay is especially important, because such travel duration usually implies higher spending on accommodation, transfers, excursions, hospitality, and additional services. In practice, this means that Belarusian tourists are not only statistically more numerous, but can also have a measurable effect on the revenues of destinations that successfully attract them.
In the broader context, the growth of travel from Belarus fits into the gradual recovery of international tourism in Europe and neighboring regions. The European Commission announced that consulates of EU member states and associated Schengen countries received more than 11.7 million short-stay visa applications in 2024, which was 13.6 percent more than in 2023, although still below 2019 levels. Such a recovery in travel demand is also felt among travelers from countries that are not EU members, including Belarus. At the same time, the accessibility of destinations does not depend only on travelers’ interest, but also on visas, air routes, political relations, package prices, and the ability to make payments abroad. That is why the Belarusian outbound market is developing unevenly: some destinations are recording strong growth, while others are limited by logistical and administrative obstacles.
Most sought-after destinations: Türkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the Caucasus
According to information reported by Belarusian state media citing the National Statistical Committee, among the most popular foreign destinations for Belarusian travelers in 2024 were Türkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Italy, and Greece. It is stated that these destinations accounted for 84.2 percent of the total organized outbound tourism flow. The list is not surprising because it combines several different travel motives: from seaside holidays and package tours to city tourism, family travel, shopping, and holidays in countries with relatively accessible air or land connections. Türkiye and Egypt are traditionally strong among tourists from the post-Soviet space because of their broad hotel offer, all-inclusive concept, developed charter sales, and competitive prices. The United Arab Emirates attracts higher-spending travelers, but also those seeking winter sun, shopping, and major international air connections. Georgia is attractive because of cultural closeness, gastronomy, and easier regional access, while Italy and Greece remain recognizable European destinations for holidays, culture, and the coast.
For destinations that want to position themselves more strongly on the Belarusian market, the way travel from that country is organized today is important. A large part of demand still goes through travel agencies, especially for more distant or visa-demanding destinations. Package tours reduce administrative uncertainty for travelers, while enabling agencies to combine transport, accommodation, insurance, and assistance in the event of rule changes. At the same time, the role of individual travel is growing, especially among younger travelers and residents of larger cities who compare prices themselves, book accommodation, and use regional airports outside Belarus. For tourist boards and the private sector, this means that communication toward the Belarusian market must be two-way: part of the promotion still goes through tour operators, but digital presence in languages travelers understand, including Russian and English, is becoming increasingly important.
Visas and borders remain a key factor for European destinations
Although Belarusian travelers show growing interest in travel, European destinations face special administrative circumstances. Belarusian citizens need a visa for short stays in most Schengen countries, and this makes travel planning more sensitive to deadlines, appointment availability, and consular capacities. The European Commission announced an overall increase in the number of Schengen visa applications in 2024, but also the fact that the global number of visas issued, although higher than the year before, was still below the pre-pandemic level. For travelers from Belarus, this means that the decision to travel to the EU is often made earlier than among travelers from countries that can travel visa-free. Destinations that depend on short last-minute arrivals may therefore benefit less from this market than those that rely on earlier sales, organized tours, and clearly communicated entry conditions.
An additional change was brought by the European Entry/Exit System, a new digital system for recording the entries and exits of third-country nationals during short stays in European countries that apply the system. According to European Union information, the system records data from the travel document, dates and places of entry and exit, and biometric data, and replaces the classic manual stamping of passports. For Belarusian travelers entering the Schengen area, this means further digitalization of the border procedure and more precise monitoring of permitted days of stay. In the long term, the system should speed up checks and reduce misuse, but during the adjustment period it may affect the travel experience, especially at busy border crossings and in larger airports. Travel agencies therefore have an increasingly important role in informing travelers about documents, insurance, length of stay, and return rules.
Air connections and political relations are changing the travel map
Travel from Belarus is also strongly affected by the state of air transport. In 2021, the Council of the European Union decided to ban Belarusian air carriers from overflying EU airspace and accessing airports of member states, after the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk on May 23, 2021. That decision has remained one of the most important transport consequences of the political crisis between Minsk and Brussels. For the tourism market, the consequences are very concrete: there are fewer direct options to European airports, journeys often include transfers, and some travelers use departures from neighboring or regional airports when possible. The restrictions do not mean that travel has stopped, but they have made it more complex and sometimes more expensive.
At the same time, destinations outside the direct reach of European sanctions can more easily maintain or increase their share of Belarusian travelers. Türkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and part of the Caucasus countries have an advantage because they offer a combination of tourism infrastructure, air connections, and relatively clear entry rules. These destinations often invest in promotion in the Russian-speaking area, and tourism products are adapted to families, couples, and travelers who expect complete service in one place. For European countries that want to attract Belarusian tourists, competition from these markets is becoming increasingly pronounced. A recognizable destination image alone is not enough if travel requires a complex visa procedure, expensive transfers, or uncertain flights.
Belarusian tourists as an opportunity for destinations seeking new markets
For tourist destinations, the growth in the number of trips from Belarus can be interesting for several reasons. First, it is a market with almost ten million residents in a wider regional environment where travel habits are changing quickly. Second, Belarusian travelers often travel during school holidays, the summer season, and winter vacations, which fits well with the capacities of destinations already working with markets of Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space. Third, the average length of stay abroad of eight days, according to Belstat data, points to potential for the sale of multi-day packages, excursions, health and wellness services, cultural programs, and family packages. Fourth, many travelers from Belarus compare destinations according to price, safety, language of communication, availability of transfers, and accommodation reputation, so less well-known destinations can be competitive if they offer clear value.
Destinations that have experience with guests from the Russian-speaking space, but are not exclusively dependent on one large market, could particularly profit. In such destinations, hoteliers and agencies usually already have materials in Russian, staff who can communicate with guests, and sales channels connected with regional tour operators. Still, it is important to avoid oversimplifying the market: Belarusian travelers are not a homogeneous group. They differ by age, income, region of origin, travel experience, and willingness to organize a trip independently. Some guests seek an affordable family holiday, some cultural and urban content, some health and wellness services, and some more luxurious hotels and shopping. That is precisely why destinations that want to work with the Belarusian market in the long term must segment their offer and communication, rather than rely only on general promotional messages.
Inbound tourism in Belarus shows that the country is trying to open toward Europe
While Belarusian citizens are increasingly traveling abroad, the authorities in Minsk are at the same time trying to attract foreign visitors. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus states that citizens of 38 European countries can enter Belarus without a visa through international road and railway border crossings and stay for up to 30 days, while for citizens of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia a longer permitted stay of up to 90 days is stated. Such measures are part of efforts to increase inbound traffic, stimulate spending, and show the country’s openness toward guests from Europe. In its 2025 announcement, Belstat also stated 579.2 thousand organized inbound tourists and excursionists in Belarus, with an average length of stay of four days. This shows that tourism flows move in both directions, although political relations and security perception remain important factors in travelers’ decisions.
For the international tourism market, this two-way movement has practical consequences. Belarus should not be viewed only as a destination, but also as an outbound market that can fill hotels, charter programs, and off-season capacities in other countries. At the same time, the development of inbound tourism in the country itself can affect the consumer habits of the population, because greater exchange with foreign countries increases the visibility of tourism products, service standards, and travelers’ expectations. If the growth of organized departures continues, destinations that build relationships with Belarusian agencies earlier, offer clear information about visas, and provide accessible routes could have an advantage. In a period when many countries are competing for guests outside traditional markets, Belarusians are increasingly appearing as a group that the tourism sector cannot ignore.
Sources:
- National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat) – announcement on organized tourism in 2025, including data on outbound and inbound travel (link)
- National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat) – publication Tourism and Tourist Resources in the Republic of Belarus, 2024, with a description of statistical data on tourism flows (link)
- European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs – data on short-stay Schengen visa applications in 2024 (link)
- European Union, official Travel Europe website – information on the Entry/Exit System for third-country nationals (link)
- Council of the European Union – timeline of sanctions against Belarus and the decision banning Belarusian air carriers from access to EU airspace and airports (link)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus – visa-free entry rules for citizens of European states (link)
- SB Belarus Today – report on the most popular foreign tourist destinations for Belarusian travelers in 2024 according to data from the National Statistical Committee (link)