Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 30 December (BelTA) - Minsk will offer a high-level tourism infrastructure in the Year of Hospitality, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Igor Karpenko told media on 30 December.

It is very symbolic that the forthcoming year has been declared the Year of Hospitality. In 2014 Minsk will play host to a significant event, the IIHF World Championship, which should become a stepping stone for the further improvement of its capabilities in terms of tourism. Additional hospitality zones will be operating during the championship. Tourists will be able to visit Minsk’s theaters, museums, concert halls, the circus and other objects of social infrastructure.

“We would like to demonstrate our openness to the world. The capital is gearing up for the event and significant tourism infrastructure is being constructed, including modern hotels and public catering facilities. Next year tourism development should be overseen on a very high level,” Igor Karpenko said.

All conditions created to adequately welcome the guests of the 2014 IIHF World Championship will help the country attract more tourists in the forthcoming years, Igor Karpenko noted.

BelTA reported earlier that the year 2014 had been declared the Year of Hospitality in Belarus. It had been done for the sake of promoting tourism, creating a modern tourism infrastructure that takes into account the country’s geographical position along with its natural, historical and cultural riches, and for inspiring patriotic pride and respect for the Fatherland among the Belarusians.