CEO Of Travel Agency In Hrodna: Visa-Free Regime Is Not So Simple

It remains unclear what will be the price for the pass and how the work of the borderline officers will be organized.

CEO of one of the travel agencies in Hrodna Hanna Sharenda does not share the optimism of the Polish side regarding introduction of the visa-free regime for those who wish to attend the Augustów Canal at the Belarusian side of the border.

The question remains how much the price for the pass will be and how they will organize the work of the borderline officers.

- I wouldn’t be so optimistic about the crowd of tourists visiting Hrodna. This decree is not so simple. One needs to obtain a pass instead of a visa. The passes are issued by the Borderline Committee. The Committee does not issue the pass for no special reason – the agenda of the visit should be fully described. Herein, when people arrive to Hrodna it takes no longer than 5 working days. In case there are holidays, it will take 7. Moreover, it remains unclear what will be the price for the pass. Maybe it will be more expensive than a visa. And then there will be a question of whether it’s worth it to go there, – Hanna Sharenda has said in an interview to Radio Racyja.

We remind, the visa-free entry to Belarus will be practiced for the foreigners visiting the Augustów Canal. The corresponding decree was signed by Lukashenka on August 23. The document establishes the procedure for visa-free entry into the territory of Belarus and temporary stay for tourism purposes for up to five days in a special tourist and recreational park "Augustów Canal " and on adjacent areas.

The decree is valid until 31 December 2017 with an option to extend for an indefinite period.