MINSK, 27 March (BelTA) – A draft presidential decree is being developed to combine visa-free travel zones in Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi on 27 March.
The official said: “This year we will prepare a draft presidential decree to combine visa-free travel zones in Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast.”
There are plans to establish a common visa-free travel territory, which will include the Augustow Canal Park and adjacent areas, the tourism and recreation zone Brest, the main part of which is represented by the national park Belovezhskaya Pushcha, as well as some other territories. Plans have been made to raise the temporary stay time limit for foreign citizens from 10 to 15 days. Additional border checkpoints will be made available.
Work continues on the national tourism development strategy for the period till 2035. “It is a guidebook for the medium term and the long-term,” the deputy sports and tourism minister noted. “The general concept of the strategy developed by the ministry's Tourism Department has been okayed by the government. A scientific team is working on the draft document now bearing the general concept in mind.”
The document is supposed to be prepared in April and forwarded for approval of all the government agencies concerned. After remarks and proposals are received, the draft strategy will be made available for public discussion.
