Press releases

GRODNO, 5 August (BelTA) – Joint promotion of the Augustow Canal on international tourism markets will be discussed at the fourth meeting of the Belarusian-Polish working group at the Ozerny spa resort on 6 September, BelTA learned from head of the sport and tourism department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Oleg Andreichik.

The working group on the development of the Augustow Canal was established in late 2016. Since then the group has been holding regular meetings in Belarus and Poland in rotation. “There has already been done a lot. Most of the decisions taken by the group are of strategic nature. The current session will focus on the development of new areas and forms of joint promotion of the Augustov Canal and adjacent territories as a single tourism product, especially since with the launch of visa-free travel rules in Grodno District it has become much easier for foreigners to visit the canal and its surroundings. We can see from increasing visitor numbers that the Belarusian part of the Augustow Canal is popular with foreign tourists,” said Oleg Andreichik.

The group will also discuss the international project August Velo. It envisages the development of cycling routes within the area of the Augustow Canal on both sides of the border, and also their inclusion into the global cycling network. A 60km cycling route on the Belarusian side will connect Grodno with the Kuzhinets Sluice on the Augustow Canal near the Lesnaya-Rudawka checkpoint. The plans are in place to develop recreational spots and bike hire points.

The group will also consider opportunities of the cross border cooperation program Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2014-2020. A competition for small cultural, historical heritage and environmental projects has recently been launched under the project. The maximum grant under the program is €60,000. The meeting of the group is attended by representatives of travel agencies, forest services, and the Augustow Canal maintenance organizations on both sides of the border.