Press releases

MINSK, 13 October (BelTA) – A tourism center of China’s Guangdong Province has opened in Minsk. The solemn ceremony to sign the relevant documents was held as part of the trade, economy and tourism conference of Guangdong Province and Minsk Oblast on 13 October, BelTA has learned.

The center will be receiving Chinese tourists, developing routes and promoting opportunities for tourism in China’s southern regions.

Zhao Yufang, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, noted that Chinese tourists are drawn to Belarus by its magnificent landscapes, ancient culture, and national customs and traditions. The country’s convenient geographical location also pays a important role in this.

“Tourism is a promising cooperation area. Our delegation includes representatives of Chinese travel agencies interested to learn more about the tourism products offered in Belarus and in Minsk Oblast in particular,” Zhao Yufang said. She invited Belarusian companies to attend international tourism trade shows to be held in China.

Guangdong Province can also be an attractive option for Belarusian tourists. The region is famous for its beaches, national traditions and cuisine. It has many five-star hotels, well-developed catering services, and a well-established transportation network. Every year the region welcomes over 100 million foreign tourists, including some 113,000 tourists from the countries of Eastern Europe.

Andrei Grinkevich, Head of the Asia, Australia and Oceania Department of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that China is the second biggest source of tourists for Belarus after Germany (outside the Commonwealth of Independent States). Last year, Belarus hosted more than 300,000 foreign tourists, which is twice as much as in 2014. Chinese nationals have been granted visa-free entry to Belarus and the right to transit the country visa-free for up to three days if they arrive on a direct flight from China and have a valid Schengen visa or a visa of a EU member state.

“Chinese tourist groups will soon be able to travel to the host country visa-free on presentation of an invitation from a travel agency. I believe that this step will help us boost tourists arrivals from China,” Andrei Grinkevich noted.

Chinese travel agencies show interest in agro- and ecotourism, historical tourism, castle tourism, transit tourism, and health tourism.

A delegation of China’s Guangdong Province is in Belarus on a visit on 12 to 15 October. On 13 October, the Belarusian capital hosted presentations of the export, investment, and tourism potential of Minsk Oblast and Guangdong Province. On 14 October, the delegation will pay a visit to the construction site of the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone.