Press releases
Belarus, Russia’s Bashkortostan outline plans for joint tourism projects
Photo courtesy of the National Union of Tourism Industry
MINSK, 14 January (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia’s Bashkortostan plan to develop joint tourism projects, BelTA learned from the press service of the National Union of Tourism Industry.
Belarus is confidently becoming one of the most sought-after destinations for residents of Bashkortostan. The partnership traces its origins to the Bashkir Longevity. Tourism project, designed to make travel affordable for retirees. In 2025, over 11,000 people participated in the project, of which about a thousand went on tours specifically to Belarus.
The itineraries are designed for eight days and include Minsk, Khatyn, Mir, Nesvizh, and the Dudutki museum complex. Tourists praise the sanatoriums, hospitality, cleanliness, high-quality food, and often return later with their children and grandchildren.
“Today, longevity tourism is expanding beyond a social program. Commercial tours focusing on spa treatments, gastronomy, and cultural routes are replacing subsidized trips. Tour operators are confident that Belarus will remain among the popular destinations even without subsidies. Demand exists and is growing,” the National Union of Tourism Industry said.
Among the advantages is convenient logistics. Tourists travel not only to sanatoriums but also on bus tours and short weekend trips.
Experts believe that Belarus’ potential for the Bashkir market is far from being exhausted. Promising areas could be industrial and rural tourism. There are also proposals to develop children’s and school programs.
Direct flights from Ufa to Minsk, operated from 2022 to 2025, played a decisive role in boosting tourist flow. Since winter, flights have been suspended, and tourists once again have to travel via Moscow. Tour operators hope air service will resume in the spring. They also advocate for having two flights per week. This would enable tourism businesses to offer 3-4 day weekend tours and full 10-12 day sanatorium packages. The short-trip format is currently in high demand.
In Bashkortostan, tourists are offered an ethno-cultural journey - the tour titled Visiting the Belarusians of Bashkortostan. This is a trip to Iglinsky District near Ufa, home to an old settlement of descendants of Belarusians who moved there several generations ago. Visitors are greeted by hosts in traditional Belarusian dress, offered draniki (potato pancakes) and borscht, and given a demonstration on making a traditional protective doll. The route has quickly become popular with both corporate groups and individual tourists and is actively included in excursion programs. Many tourists who have visited Belarus are now traveling with interest to Iglinsky District to see how the local Belarusians live.
A reciprocal flow is also forming, although Bashkortostan is less known in Belarus than Moscow or Kazan.
“The history of Bashkir-Belarusian cooperation in tourism is a vivid example of how a social program can become a driver for a market segment. Now that longevity tourism has turned into a steady stream, market participants face a new task: to turn this experience into a long-term partnership where travel from Bashkortostan to Belarus and vice versa becomes a common, regular, and mutually beneficial practice,” the press service added.
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