Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) – Belarus considers an opportunity to extend the visa-free stay to ten days, Belarus’ Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi told the media on 25 September.

“The work is underway. We need more than five days. This is especially important for the medical and sport tourism. Five days is too short a period of time. This was, however, a pilot project connected with security, which is very important in tourism. Now, when the security system has been fully tested, we are talking over an opportunity to increase the number of days to ten. I hope we will do it by the European Games,” Mikhail Portnoi said.

According to the deputy minister, no decision to extend the visa-free stay in Belarus has been taken so far. Belarus has been perfecting the existing mechanism. “For example, we have developed an experimental decree on the Augustow Canal. Our current proposals, apart from the Augustow Canal, is to make the railway station and the airport of Grodno as well as a part of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha a visa-free zone. Brest would like to make progress in this area, too,” he said. Mikhail Portnoi stated that such decisions produce economic results.