MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) – The State Border Committee of Belarus is ready for an increased number of tourists at the Minsk National Airport due to the introduction of the five-day rule for visa-free travels in Belarus. Head of the Border Control Office of the State Border Committee of Belarus Oleg Lyashuk made the statement during the press briefing held in BelTA's press center on 10 January to discuss the new Belarusian visa regulations.
According to the source, the border checkpoint in the Minsk National Airport is ready for any increase in the number of foreign citizens willing to enter Belarus due to the new visa regulations. “If necessary, we are ready to hire more personnel,” said the official.
Oleg Lyashuk also stated that the number of foreign citizens, who enter the country via the Minsk National Airport, rises by 10-15% every year.
BelTA reported earlier that on 9 January Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed decree No.8, which stipulates how foreign citizens can enter or leave the country without visas. The document allows citizens of 80 countries to stay in Belarus for at most five days without visas, provided they cross the state border in the Minsk National Airport. The new regulations apply to citizens of 39 countries in Europe, including the entire European Union, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, the USA, Japan, and other countries.
