MINSK, 5 December (BelTA) - The 4th international forum “Image of the Republic of Belarus: Advantages and Ways to Succeed” will open in Minsk on 5 December, BelTA has learnt.
According to the organizers, the goal of the forum is to outline specific actions and unite progressive forces (experts, organizations, international communities) in the implementation of projects to promote the country’s image. The forum focuses on the presentation and support of the projects which bring dividends to cities, regions, industries. Over the past two years the forum has been oriented on more practical issues and steps. In this respect specialists will not only pay attention to interesting initiatives but also discuss their economic and social efficiency.
The two-day program will comprise three thematic sections: “Urban and regional promotion and development”, “International PR via the Internet”, “Event Tourism”.
One of the creators of the brand “I Amsterdam” Bjorn Stenvers will present his unique experience at the forum. In the first five years since 2004 the number of tourists visiting Amsterdam has gone up about four times. In 2009 tourism earned ?5.2 billion for the city. Amsterdam currently hosts about 170 major international cultural events every year. Brest and Lida are among the Belarusian cities which are seeking ways to promote themselves. Their representatives will take part in one of the sections of the forum. The forum will discuss themes such as competitiveness of Belarusian regions and regional policy, public initiatives in shaping the urban and regional image, others.
In 2013 the Belarusian Foreign Ministry kicked off a new Internet project under the name “Belarus. Facts”, which contains information about Belarus. Everyone who would like to visit this country can contact a Belarusian embassy abroad and receive the necessary information. However, the organizers of the forum admit that having several famous Belarusian web portals is not enough. The second section of the forum will be dedicated to unique private projects about Belarus and its events. Among the issues for discussion will be main requests about Belarus from abroad, ONT special projects to promote Belarus in television and Internet broadcasting, PR technologies and the newsmaker's role.
The event tourism section is expected to be one of the most popular ones considering the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk. The section will discuss the creation of tourism products, assessment of the effectiveness of tourism, Belarusian cuisine, new initiatives in event tourism as well as preparations for the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Specialists will discuss Belarus’ tourism development strategy for 2014, spending by foreign tourists in the country. They will also pay attention to quality tourism products as the basis for expanding inbound tourism, cooperation with the foreign tourism network. The 2014 events project “Belarus’ 7 Wonders of the World” will be one of the highlights, too.
The forum is organized with the participation of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the Foreign Ministry, the Information Ministry, the Economy Ministry, the Trade Ministry and the Culture Ministry of Belarus. The organizer of the forum which is due to run through 6 December is the Strategic Development Center Marketing Systems. The general partner is Horizont Holding Company. Among organizing partners is the Guild of Marketing Managers, Europe Hotel, the Belarusian State Academy of Music, Donarit printing office, SMG-Belarus Advertising Holding Company.
Written by belta.by
