Press releases

GRODNO, 22 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian city of Grodno has welcomed the first visa-free tourists from the United States, Ireland and Macedonia, Oleg Andreichik, head of the sport and tourism department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, told BelTA.

Tourists from a growing number of countries have already used the opportunity to visit Belarus since the introduction of the visa-free travel on 26 October. The recreation park Augustow Canal and the surrounding area have already hosted visa-free travelers from 21 countries. Over the past week, the park welcomed tourists from the United States, Ireland and Macedonia. As of the beginning of the week, over 1,800 foreign nationals visited Grodno Oblast without a visa, and more than 2,100 foreigners got registered for visa-free entry.

The majority of the tourists come for the weekend. “The most popular destinations in the visa-free area during the winter season are the Old Castle and the New Castle in Grodno, museums, the old part of the city (walking tours). Almost all the groups of Polish tourists pay a visit to the House Museum of Eliza Orzeszkowa. The farmsteads in the visa-free area attract a growing interest. The zoo and one of the clubs in Grodno are also popular with foreign tourists,” Oleg Andreichik said. He added that the travelers give positive feedback about their stay and the tours they are offered. Still, they note that the navigation along the routes might be improved (there are not enough signs in languages they can read), and the working hours of the public catering facilities and parking lots might be longer.

Decree No. 318 of the Belarusian head of state on the introduction of the visa-free travel to the Augustow Canal for foreigners came into force on 26 October. The document permits foreign nationals to stay on the territory of the park and its surroundings for a period of up to five days.