Belarus to simplify entry rules for foreigners

11 января 2018

A meeting on the liberalization of visa-free regime discussed options for attracting tourists. This sphere in Belarus is developing dynamically. The impetus was also given to initiatives that simplified the entry for citizens of 80 countries. By the way, almost 80 thousand people enjoyed this opportunity last year. Obviously, such openness will pay dividends. However, security remains a priority. An important aspect is the opinion of the partners in the Union State. In response to 5-day "visa-free travel" mode Russian border guards organized a check of documents on the Belarusian-Russian border. The way out, for both countries is mutual recognition of visas. The issue was raised at the level of foreign ministers in the autumn.

The tourism industry has grown stronger. Minsk, the Avgustovsky canal, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Brest and Grodno border areas received a serious impetus for growth.

In general, the President supported the line for further liberalization of the visa policy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs clarifies: agreements with the European Union, China and the Russian Federation are ready.

The issue of openness in the modern world is inextricably linked with the issue of security

From such positions, the President assesses visa innovations, without ignoring the problems. In the press, Russian passport and cargo checks have been dubbed "the most bizarre border in Europe", and tourists from Russia even had to survive kilometer traffic jams to get home after the Belarusian New Year holidays. Minsk does not see any logic in the spoiled vacations of our guests.

Today Belarus is working out an extension of the visa-free period: 10 days and even a month as a distant prospect.