Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 31 July (BelTA) – The period of visa-free stay in Belarus should be extended, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Taleb Rifai said in an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA learned.

Taleb Rifai noted that the five-day visa-free program has had a positive impact on the tourism image of Belarus. “The results are obvious. Visitor numbers are growing at an impressive pace. This means that was the right decision to make,” the expert said.

However, he believes that five days is too short a period. It is important to create favorable conditions to encourage tourists to stay longer in Belarus and to spend more. Taleb Rifai is confident that it is better to have one million tourists coming for ten days than two or three million for five days. It is better for the country from the environmental, economic, and social standpoint.

Taleb Rifai added that he was impressed with the Belarusian nature and the relations between people. “Belarus is just amazing,” he said.