MINSK, 27 September (BelTA) – The majority of tourists benefiting from the visa-free travel to Belarus come from Germany and Poland, Belarus' Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi told the media on 27 September.
"The load of Minsk National Airport has increased by 27%. Belarus welcomes most of its visa-free tourists from Germany, Poland, Italy, the United States and the UK. Large-scale marketing campaigns were held, including on the main targeted markets," he said.
As for outbound tourism this year, the interest of Belarusian tourists in foreign resorts is on the rise (a slight decline in the area was registered last year). "Russia, including its Krasnodar Krai resorts, leads in the list of the top tourist destinations for Belarus. Belarusians also choose to travel to Turkey, Egypt, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. The domestic tourism is also vibrant, with a variety of interesting proposals," said Mikhail Portnoi.
Belarus introduced its five-day visa-free travel for citizens of 80 countries on 12 February 2017. The new rule applies to 39 European countries, including the entire European Union, and also Brazil, Indonesia, the United States, Japan and other states. The visa-free entry is valid only through the border checkpoint at Minsk National Airport.
There are plans to extend the visa-free stay in Belarus to ten days.
