Press releases

GRODNO, 9 November (BelTA) – About 300 foreigners have registered for visa-free visits to Grodno since corresponding decree No.318 came into force on 26 October, BelTA learned from the Grodno Oblast Sports and Tourism Department.

Tourists address travel agencies of their countries in order to get a permit for a visit to the Augustow Canal Park and the surrounding areas for a period of up to five days. According to the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, the majority of them are from Poland.

As of 9 November, more than 170 out of the registered foreigners have already conducted visa-free trips across the Grodno border checkpoints. The majority of them are Polish citizens. Lithuanian neighbors are ranked second. Among visa-free visitors are guests from Spain, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Belgium. Over five days of October the Augustow Canal zone and the surrounding areas were visited by 45 foreigners. The second week already saw more than 130 visitors. The majority of them planned their travel to Grodno Oblast via the Bruzgi checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border and the Privalka checkpoint on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.

“These two weeks of the new decree in force outlined the areas for further work to improve the services for foreign guests. This will include information sharing, provision of information on websites in different languages, the development of websites of restaurants and hotels,” noted Grodno Oblast Governor Viktor Liskovich.

Foreign tourists got the opportunity to visit the Augustow Canal Park without visas as from 26 October. Decree No.318 of 23 August 2016 envisages the establishment of visa-free entry and departure for foreign citizens. The so-called visa-free zone has included the city of Grodno and a part of Grodno District. The visa-free regime will be in place until 31 December 2017.