Press releases

GRODNO, 26 October (BelTA) – A tourist information center of Poland’s Podlaskie Voivodeship opened in the Belarusian city of Grodno on 26 October, BelTA has learned.

The center is housed by the Grodno tourist information center. Its opening was timed to coincide with the commencement of the agreement on visa-free travel to the tourism and recreation park Augustow Canal, Grodno and nearby areas. Members of a Polish delegation led by Jerzy Leszczynski, Marshal of Podlaskie Voivodeship, were the first tourists to enter Belarus’ Grodno Oblast visa-free on 26 October.

“It is important that our close neighbors and colleagues have become our first guests. The visa-free travel agreement and the information centers will enable us to boost our tourism potential and promote joint projects such as the Augustow Canal,” Sergei Koleda, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Tourism and Sport Union, said. He pointed out that a similar center offering tourist information about Grodno will open in Poland’s Bialystok soon. The center will work to enhance the tourist appeal of the Belarusian city.

“I am confident that it will help attract more tourists to the region. We have something to show to Belarusians, Poles, and guests from other countries,” Michal Podbielski, President of the Board of the Podlaska Regional Tourist Organization, said at the opening ceremony. He emphasized that the visa-free travel with Belarus arouses great interest in Poland. “We regularly receive calls from people asking for additional information. I think the tourist information centers will answer all their questions,” he added.

All the necessary information about the tourist offerings of the Augustow Canal and the visa-free entry procedure is available from the tourist information centers and also from the website grodnovisafree.by that was presented in Grodno on 26 October.

Foreign tourists can visit the tourism and recreation park Augustow Canal without visas from 26 October. Foreign citizens are required to produce their passport (or another document for travels abroad) and the document confirming their right to visit the Augustow Canal.

Tourists are also required to have money to finance the costs associated with staying in Belarus and leaving the country. In particular, they need to have at least two base amounts per day in Belarusian rubles or a foreign currency. One base amount stands at Br21 at present. Visa-free travels will be available till 31 December 2017.