GRODNO, 23 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian city of Grodno has been recently gaining popularity with Lithuanians and Poles as a destination for corporate weekends, BelTA learned from the sports and tourism office of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee.
Travel agencies have launched a new product, namely tours for foreigners to the visa-free zone of Grodno Oblast. They organize corporate tours for companies wishing to celebrate some occasion or event with a trip to Belarus. It were foreign companies that came with the idea of such tours, and travel agencies were fast to respond to this demand, said Oleg Andreichik, the head of the sports and tourism office. Now among the companies that have registered for a corporate weekend in Grodno, there is a banking company from Poland that plans to bring some 200 employees to Belarus.
The sports and tourism office representatives noted that Belarusian travel agencies are ready to offer an eventful corporate tourism program with educational, sports and entertainment activities, depending on the customers' preferences and needs.
The visa-free travel to the Augustow Canal, including Grodno and its surroundings, has been in effect since 26 October. Some 4,200 foreigners have used the visa-free entry option since then. Over 4,700 foreign nationals has got registered for it. Over a half of the foreigners crossing the Belarusian border without a visa are Lithuanians. Poles are the second biggest group of visa-free travelers to Grodno Oblast. Latvian and German citizens also make an active use of the visa-free travel. All in all, Grodno and its surroundings have welcomed tourists from more than 30 countries, including Macedonians, Japanese, Chinese, U.S. nationals and citizens of other countries.
