Tourist from London arrived to Belarus for 10 days, but ran away after three days!

In three days the British citizen skittled away500 dollars in the capital of Belarus and asked: “How do you survive with 300 dollars a month?!”

This story happened a few days ago. It was told to the European Radio for Belarus by a worker of one of the largest tour operators of Minsk.

“A tourist from London addressed us. He wanted to spend 10 days ion Belarus. He refused services of an interpreter. He said that he had visited Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and he had no language problems. He arrived, and in three days he came to us and said: “I want back home! Please give me a ticket to the nearest flight back home!” We started to inquire him about what had happened. He said: “I cannot stay here any more! I cannot read Russian, and there is not a single Latin letter here. Such things are impossible! Everything is so expensive here! Taxi is more expensive than in London, a café is more expensive; to visit a club is more expensive, public transport is more expensive! I have spent 500 dollars in three days!” and finally he asked: “How do you survive with your 300 dollars a month?!” a representative of the tour operator said.

How much does a foreigner spend over a week in Belarus?

“If it is a three-star hotel with a lunch, economy-class, plus visa support – it costs $600-650 a week. If he needs a transfer from the airport and back, it costs $750 per week,” the representative of the tour operator said.

Please do not forget to add the cost of the Belarusian visa, which is really costly!

“The average cost is 60 Euro if it is received in the Consulate of Belarus. For the British its cost is higher, 120 or 130 Euro,” the travel company worker said.

Employees of the travel company say that foreigners who like to travel have certain forums on the Internet. And Belarus is not a favourite there…

“There is an opinion among European tourists that Belarus is a country of extreme travel. They write: “Be prepared that waiters do not smile in Belarus, they do not know English. People are polite, but they cannot show that.” Last year they were shocked that they had to pay additionally for a towel and bed sheets!” told a travel company worker.

Syarhei Plytkevich, an editor of “Tourism and Rest” newspaper, an expert in tourist industry, supposes that the tourist had not been warned about local peculiarities. Besides, Belarus does not really care about creating a positive tourist image in the international market:

“People are asking: “How could we get to you? Wouldn’t we be arrested there?!” As long as there is no positive image of Belarus, we cannot expect tourists visiting us”.