BREST, 1 March (BelTA) – Citizens from 24 countries visited the tourism and recreation zone Brest in January-February 2018. The statistics was revealed by the Sport and Tourism Office of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee on 1 March, BelTA has learned.
About 1,000 foreigners grabbed the opportunity to visit Brest and the surrounding area for ten days without visas in January-February 2018. Most of the tourists came from Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. The oblast administration is busy compiling an action plan to attract a larger number of foreign tourists.
Among other things a tourism information website will go online to offer a closer look at what places of interest and entertainment options are available in the tourism and recreation zone Brest. A travel pass has been developed and introduced. Travel passes are sold at border checkpoints and offer discounts in Brest hotels and public catering outlets, discounts on tourism services and excursions, noted Yevgeny Prolisko, Head of the Tourism Sector of the Sport and Tourism Office of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee.
According to Belarusian Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi, tourism should become one of the engines of the national economy. “We have an advantageous geographical position. We have created the necessary infrastructure. We should wisely use what we have. I am convinced that visa-free travel options will play a positive role in efforts to export more tourism services. I think Brest Oblast will gain a lot in this regard,” he stressed.
In 2017 Brest Oblast exported $13.4 million worth of tourism services, 13% up from 2016.
