Press releases

GRODNO, 24 October (BelTA) – A portal about a unique hydraulic structure – Augustow Canal - has gone online, BelTA has learned from head of the sport and tourism department at the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Oleg Andreichik.

“This resource is a one-stop-shop for tourists who want to explore the Augustow Canal and Grodno District. It offers exhaustive information about tours, recreation opportunities and all kinds of activities. It provides a list of historical sites, museums, conducted tours and excursions, cafes and restaurants, shops of Grodno and the district. Tourists will be able to learn about the location and get a brief description of local hotels and rural tourism estates located in the vicinity of the Augustow Canal. The website also contains information about rules of the visa-free entry,” Oleg Andreichik noted. So far the website has only the Russian version; however, more language options will be available soon. The new website can be found at augustow.canal-tourism.com.

This is the first specialized portal that is wholly dedicated to the canal and the surrounding area. It was developed as part of a joint project of the sport and tourism department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee and the European Union.

The Augustow Canal is getting increasingly popular with tourists. In the 2018 season it welcomed about 102,000 visitors from all over Belarus and abroad.

“The dynamics is impressive. For example, during last year’s season the canal welcomed about 85,000 tourists. The fact that the Augustow Canal is gaining popularity is proved by a many-fold increase in search engine queries about this unique hydraulic structure. By the way, it will be easier now for Internet users to find answers to their questions about the canal,” Oleg Andreichik noted.

The number of travelers crossing the Belarusian-Polish border via the checkpoint Lesnaya-Rudawka on the Augustow Canal has risen this year, too. This checkpoint can be crossed by boat, by bicycle and on foot. The passenger flow rose by 18% in the 2018 season. Most of the travelers crossing the border via this checkpoint are visa-free tourists. Foreign nationals can visit the Augustow Canal, just like entire Grodno District without visas for the period up to ten days. Since the start of the year the region has welcomed over 70,000 visa-free tourists from more than 60 countries.