Protecting nature is a crucial condition for the development of tourism, Sergey Kovalchuk, the Minister of Sports and Tourism of Belarus, stated during the First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, held within the framework of COP29, Report informs.
Kovalchuk emphasized that climate and environmental issues are among the most pressing challenges facing the world today. He highlighted that in Belarus, eco-tourism has been identified as a priority at the state level, reflecting the country's respect for nature.
The minister further noted that Belarus is one of the countries directly affected by ecological problems. "The Chernobyl disaster is the most striking example of this impact," he said. "Unfortunately, this topic now often comes up in another aspect - in the context of wars, because wars are also one of the main factors negatively affecting the climate."
Kovalchuk also pointed out that tourism reflects various aspects of human life and that Belarus is a country that has faced the severe consequences of wars. "During World War II, one in three Belarusians - a total of 2.5 million people - lost their lives," he revealed. Therefore, the country places special emphasis on war-themed tourism, with special routes designed to preserve historical memory for future generations.