News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 22 February (BelTA) – Tourists in Belarus can now choose among about 170 five-day tours, BelTA learned from Yelena Likhimovich, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Agency of Belarus, on 22 February.

According to the source, about 170 five-day tours have been developed for the National Tourism Agency of Belarus and with assistance of the Agency’s specialists. The tours can be mixed and matched to satisfy the taste of visitors, who intend to stay in Belarus for three to five days. Any travel agency can use the list to put together a competitive product.

One of the five-day tours was described in detail as an example. A visit to Minsk itself, a general sightseeing tour of the city is arranged on the first day. A visit to Mir and Nesvizh is arranged on the second day as a rule. A tour to the Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Lifestyle in Strochitsy or the Dudutki Museum is offered on the third day. Another day can be dedicated to visiting the Glory Mound, the World War Two memorial Khatyn or Stalin’s Line. The fifth day is usually set aside for shopping, for buying souvenirs or for rambling about the city.

Representatives of the Belarusian travel industry pointed out that any route can be adjusted to match the guest’s preferences. The transport infrastructure allows visiting many parts of the country over the course of five days.

If the visa-free period is extended to 12-14 days, it would be welcome news primarily for sanatoriums and health resorts, experts believe.

BelTA reported earlier that citizens of 80 countries can stay in Belarus for five days without visas as of 12 February, provided they enter the country via the Minsk National Airport. The new regulations apply to citizens of 39 countries of Europe, including the entire European Union, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, the USA, Canada, Japan, and other countries. Visa-free tourists are required to have a valid passport or an equivalent document, sufficient monetary funds in Belarusian rubles or foreign currency to the tune of at least two base amounts per day, and a medical insurance policy worth at least €10,000 that is valid in Belarus.