MINSK, 20 April (BelTA) – Participants of the international caravan and camping festival in Minsk will get a 20-day visa-free entry to the country, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department of the Sports and Tourism Ministry Vitaly Gritsevich told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 20 April.
“The head of state supported the initiative of the Sports and Tourism Ministry to exempt the participants of the international caravanning motor run from consular fees for the period of 26 April to 15 May 2017 with a view to visiting the country and getting familiar with its culture and everyday life,” said the representative of the Sports and Tourism Ministry.
Last year the participants of the international caravan and camping festival in Belarus received free visas as well, but only for the time of the event. This year a decision was taken to provide the participants of the festival with an opportunity to study the country's landmarks. Caravaneers will be able to order an excursion around Belarus or visit its landmarks independently.
According to Vitaly Gritsevich, there are 40 campsites in Belarus. The country's fuel stations play a big role in this work by building campsites for caravaneers.
“A lot of preparatory work has been already done. I would like to thank all the government bodies that took part in the preparations for the festival. Everyone understands the importance of the event that promotes tourism in the country,” Vitaly Gritsevich said.
The international caravan and camping festival will be held near Minsk Airport 1 from 28 April to 1 May. Participation in the motor run has been confirmed by 550 motorhomes: about 1,200 caravaneers from 16 countries. The biggest interest in the event has been spotted from motoring tourists from Germany, Finland, Poland, Russia, Moldova, Latvia, and Estonia. Among the organizers of the event are the Sports and Tourism Ministry, Minsk City Hall and the Camping Union of Belarus.
Caravanning is a type of tourism. Caravanners travel in motorhomes and stay in camping sites. The government program Hospitable Belarus for 2016-2020 names caravanning as one of the priority forms of tourism, taking into account the country's transit opportunities.
