GRODNO, 27 March (BelTA) – The Augustow Canal welcomed more than 700 visa-free tourists during the previous weekend, which was a record high for the park, BelTA learned from deputy head of the sports and tourism department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Tatyana Lidyayeva.
In her words, over 500 foreigners paid a visit to the Augustow Canal visa-free on Saturday, 25 March, alone. “This is another record. The number of tourists increases every week. The region has been welcoming 550 to 600 visa-free tourists every weekend since early March,” Tatyana Lidyayeva noted. She added that tourists usually choose the Privalki-Raigardas checkpoint at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border to enter Belarus. It is no wonder as nearly 65% of visa-free guests are citizens of Lithuania.
“Last weekend Grodno welcomed a group of representatives of the Lithuanian travel industry. The Lithuanian delegation was shown around the most interesting tourism facilities in Grodno and its suburbs,” said Tatyana Lidyayeva.
Grodno and the Augustow Canal are expected to welcome even more guests with the start of the season. The tourist season will officially kick off on 1 May.
The visa-free rules were introduced in the Augustow Canal, including Grodno and its suburbs, on 26 October 2016. Visa-exempt travelers may enter the park and the adjoining villages of Gozha, Koptevka, Odelsk, Podlabenye and Sopotskin of Grodno District and the city of Grodno for the period of up to five days. Over the time the region has welcomed more than 6,600 visa-free tourists from 33 countries.
