On 7 July the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture was visited by the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai.
According to the old Slavic tradition, the foreign guest was greeted with bread and salt.
The rector of BSUPC Sergey Borisovich Repkin greeted the Secretary-General of UNWTO and invited him to attend a small thematic exhibition of scientific and methodical literature on the works of teachers of our university, as well Belarusian and foreign researchers.
Within the framework of the exhibition there was also a presentation of the tourism center of the Institute of Tourism and the Confucius Classroom of BSUPC.
The main purpose of the visit of the head of the leading international organization in the field of tourism is a meeting with young staff. In the university’s Council boardroom more than 60 future specialists in the field of tourism and hospitality saluted with cheers Taleb Rifai. Among them students and masters of the Institute of Tourism of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, BSU and BSEU.
First Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus Mikhail Petrovich Portnoy reminded the audience about the main directions of work in the sphere of tourism and noted several important changes that contribute to the upgrading quality of services and the influx of tourists to Belarus: this is a change in the legislative framework, and the possibility of signing contracts electronically, and, of course, the introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens more than 80 countries.
«There are already the first results of these innovations», said Mikhail Petrovich. — For example, today the National Airport Minsk is loaded by 30% more than in the same period last year».
Taleb Rifai, addressing the participants of the meeting, emphasized that he is very happy to be at the university and meet young men and girls who chose a wonderful profession for themselves.
«Tourism is the best business, because the workers of this sphere give people joy. It is tourism that can change the world and make it better», said UNWTO Secretary-General.
Taleb Rifai said that in 2016 the number of tourists reached 1 billion 335 million. 60 years ago this was a completely different figure — only 25 million people.
«Previously, traveling was a luxury that only very wealthy people could afford. Today, in the era of the development of transport and information technologies, everyone can go to another country. The annual increase in tourists is 3% ».
All the questions asked by Taleb Rifai were about Belarus as a country with great tourist potential.
When he was asked about what our country can remember for foreigners, the guest of the university answered simply with the smiles of people.
«I assure you, you will not find such a smile like in Belarus anywhere. There is something special about it, something that makes you come back here again», Taleb Rifai shared his impressions.
He also identified the most promising areas that should be developed in Belarus. According to the Secretary-General of UNWTO, interest in foreigners will cause urban, medical tourism and ecotourism.
«A modern tourist is different from a tourist who went on a trip 10 years ago. Today, people make high demands on service and infrastructure. They want wi-fi to be everywhere, even in the deepest forest. Tourists do not want to travel in large groups. It is important for them not only to get acquainted with the sights of the country, they want to communicate with local residents, to understand their worldview. These are the new trends», Taleb Rifai said.
He wished the students and masters who had come to the meeting to become real professionals in their field.
At the end of the event, the rector of the University handed over souvenirs to the guest.
