MINSK, 3 January (BelTA) – Over 2,200 foreign tourists have visited Grodno and its surroundings visa-free since 26 October 2016, BelTA has learned from the Grodno border guard group.
Over 300 tourists entered the visa-free zone for the Christmas and New Year holidays. From 26 December 2016 to 1 January 2017, 180 persons crossed the Belarusian-Polish border visa-free through the Bruzgi checkpoint. Among them were the citizens of Poland, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Ireland. Over 140 foreign nationals crossed the Belarusian-Lithuanian border visa-free through the Privalka checkpoint. Among them were the citizens of Lithuania, Spain, Norway, the United Kingdom and Estonia.
“The geography of visa-free travelers is expanding. Over 2,200 foreigners from 25 countries have visited Grodno and its surroundings visa-free since 26 October 2016,” the representatives of the border guard group noted.
Most of the tourists are the citizens of the neighboring Poland and Lithuania, the sport and tourism department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee stressed. “The tourists are interested in the various cultural and historic sites both of Grodno and Grodno District. The tourists are also interested in the cuisine, the traditions and other national specifics of the region,” the representatives of the department noted. Travel agencies report on the growing interest of the foreigners in Belarusian culture after visiting the Grodno region. Some tourists apply for a Belarusian visa to continue their discovery of the country.
“The feedback is mostly positive. There have been no problems or complaints so far. Tour operators continue to prepare new routes and tours for foreign tourists,” the sport and tourism department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee noted. Over 2,500 persons have applied for a visa-free visit to Grodno and its surroundings since 26 October 2016.
Decree No. 318 of the Belarusian head of state on the introduction of the visa-free travel to the Augustow Canal for foreigners came into force on 26 October. The document permits foreign nationals to stay on the territory of the park and its surroundings for a period of up to five days. The document permits foreign nationals to stay on the territory of the park and its surroundings for a period of up to five days.
