On January 30, 2024, parliamentary hearings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism activities within the union state were held in the city of Smolensk.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly Commission on Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism Artyom Turov, members of the Commission Dmitry Baskov, Yulia Murina, Anton Tkachev, Governor of the Smolensk Region Vasily Anokhin, Chairman of the Smolensk Regional Duma Igor Lyakhov. Participants in the parliamentary hearings included representatives of the Permanent Committee of the Union State, relevant ministries and departments, the Office of the President of the Russian Federation for Cross-Border Cooperation of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, the Government of the Smolensk Region, the Foundation for Eurasian Cooperation and Integration, leading political scientists, scientists, representatives of the expert community, representatives of the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium Treatment of the Population

During the parliamentary hearings, attention was focused on the main goals, objectives, principles, directions, forms and mechanisms for strengthening interaction between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in the field of tourism activities.

The perspective directions for the convergence of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in the field of tourism activities, the need and expediency of using the potential for the development and adoption of model legislative acts in the course of work on the convergence of legislation in the field of tourism activities are considered. Cooperation in the tourism industry of the Union State on the joint formation and promotion of tourist routes in order to further increase domestic and incoming tourist flows in the Union State.

In addition, the prospects for the development of tourism activities within the Union State were considered: interaction between state and other bodies of Belarus and Russia, existing problems and ways to overcome them, promising areas of cooperation.

Joint programs and events of the Union State in the field of tourism.

Participants in the hearings believe that it is necessary to create a Tourist Information Center of the Union State on the territory of the city of Smolensk within the framework of the mechanism of project activities of the Union State. It is important to include in the list of tasks it implements the implementation of a joint marketing policy, including for tourists from third countries, as well as the development and support of Russian-Belarusian cross-border tourist routes.

An important role in the discussions was given to the educational potential of tourism activities in the Union State. This is the development and implementation of programs for children and youth educational and tourist exchanges on the territory of the Union State, tourism programs in the field of patriotic education, and the development of joint cross-border tourist routes to places of military glory with the inclusion of hero cities, cities of military glory, cities of labor valor in such routes .

Particular importance is attached to organizing events on the theme of the Union State, special cultural and educational events that highlight the historical and spiritual community of the peoples of Belarus and Russia. Over time, the qualities inculcated among young people during such programs are transformed into a powerful inner core. And if the youth of Russia and Belarus find a common language today, this will be the guarantee that the Union State will have a tomorrow.