Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 6 October (BelTA) – Work is in progress to extend the period, during which foreign citizens can stay in Belarus without visas. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the statement during the first conference of Belarus’ honorary consuls, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.

Vladimir Makei said: “We are now working to increase the visa-free stay time of foreign citizens in our territory”.

The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs originally came up with the idea to attract foreign tourists and businessmen to Belarus by letting citizens of the European Union and other countries — 80 countries in total — to enter and stay in Belarus for five days without visas, provided they enter via the Minsk National Airport. Some other ideas to facilitate entry and stay in Belarus are in the pipeline.

“Unfortunately, there are people supporting and opposing these proposals. I can understand them considering the rising threat of terrorism and international crime. This is why we are trying to take care of every detail, including ways to counteract such phenomena. But on the whole I am convinced that we will further extend the visa-free stay period for foreign citizens,” said the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs.

In his words, there is a considerable untapped potential for bringing foreign tourists to Belarus. “Your assistance in the matter can be invaluable. Instead of simply creating the minimum infrastructure Belarus offers the most up-to-date forms of tourism: environmental tourism, healthcare tourism, business tourism, education tourism, sport tourism, and culinary tourism. The unique nature, picturesque nature reserves, historical places of interest, magnificently equipped sanatoriums, modern hotels and farm tourism estates, the national cuisine, music and cinema festivals, the forthcoming European Games and ice hockey world championship — the list of Belarus’ advantages can go on and on,” noted Vladimir Makei.