Context: On average, Russian tourists spend about $1,000 on flight-inclusive tours to Belarus, typically three- or four-day group trips for two to three people during the May holidays. This is according to information presented by the analytical service of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. The organization also noted that in 2026, holiday costs in Belarus for Russian tourists increased by 10–15%. Since January, children have been required to have foreign passports to enter Belarus. However, these factors are unlikely to impact tourist flow significantly. Belarus has not been a popular destination for family vacations with children; it was more often chosen by adult tourists for excursions or health resort vacations.
On 3 May 2026, in a segment about the start of the tourist season on the Kontury program on ONT, Anhelina Dzikun stated that Belarus has become the top destination for Russian tourists during the May holidays.
“The spring holidays are not just a high season; they are a real tourism boom. Statistics confirm that Belarus is the number one destination for Russians during these May holidays and competes on equal footing with Turkish resorts.”
Otello was the only one of the three Russian booking platforms to show Belarus in the lead. On this platform, it did surpass Turkey as the most popular foreign destination. In terms of accommodation bookings, Belarus took second place after Turkey on the Ostrovok service. According to OneTwoTrip, Belarus’s position worsened compared to last year, ranking third behind Turkey and China. In other words, when it comes to independent bookings, Belarus is one of the three most popular spring vacation destinations for Russians.
However, in organized tourism, Belarus’s position is even lower. According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, Russians switched to other tourist destinations this spring due to military conflicts around the world, opting out of Cuba and the UAE. This led to Belarus’s first appearance in the top 10 for May tours.
The Weekly Top Fake team discovered a key indicator that Belarus ranked first and approached the resort in Turkey: the cost of accommodation. According to the booking service Ostrovok, the average Russian tourist spends $170 per night in Belarus.
Therefore, ONT TV channel employee Anhelina Dzikun overstated the importance of Belarus in the Russian tourist market. While the country is popular with Russians and is one of the most popular destinations for the May holidays, data from various services does not confirm that it has become the number one destination.