subject: Belarus may soon issue visas online [print this page] Belarus may soon introduce an electronic visa system, Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Cheslav Shulga told media on 24 September.
"Today when there is an opportunity to purchase tickets online, we can launch e-visas," he noted. In this case one will need to send all necessary information through a secure protocol to obtain an e-visa.
According to Cheslav Shulga, the cost of a visa for tourist groups visiting Belarus is not so high (10 per person) as for the tourists who prefer traveling alone (60 for a visa).
At the same time, the protocol of the instructions of the President of Belarus of 13 September envisions that a possible simplification of visa regime for the tourists from the Baltic states and Poland visiting the Naroch Krai will be considered by 31 December 2010. By the end of the year the Council of Ministers will study the opportunities to simplify the visa regime and provide the President with the results of their work.
Besides, Belarus and Latvia have recently signed an agreement to facilitate border-crossing for residents of bordering areas. Very soon Belarus plans to sign an agreement on small-scale local border traffic with Lithuania.
As of today, there are more than 1100 farmsteads in Belarus. Rural tourism in Belarus is on the rise. In 2009, about 70,000 tourists from 39 countries visited Belarusian farmsteads.
As Cheslav Shulga said, the farmsteads are gradually transforming into hotels with various services. The development of rural tourism in Belarus creates incentives for cultural events, such as the Zaborski Fest festival in Rossony District of Vitebsk Oblast.
A reminder, in early 2010 the Government drafted a new decree, which allows the rural tourism entities increasing the number of guest rooms in a farmstead up to ten. Apart from that, the Sports Ministry proposes to extend the preferences for businessmen working in the field of rural tourism to 2021.
Cheslav Shulga expressed his hope, that apart from farmsteads, cooperative societies, farm enterprises and ordinary farms will develop the rural tourism infrastructure. On the whole, the farmsteads will be united in complexes, which will further comprise rural tourism resorts.
Belarus may soon issue visas online
By: belta
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