GRODNO, 10 May (BelTA) - Grodno has welcomed a record number of foreign nationals past week who came to see the city and the surrounding area which are part of the visa-free zone, BelTA learned from the sport and tourism department of the Grodno oblast Executive Committee.

From 29 April to 6 May the city of Grodno and Grodno District were visited by almost 3,900 visa-free tourists. This is a record number since the visa-free zone was launched. For example, in the same period of last year, the region welcomed about 2,500 visa-free visitors.

“Traditionally, we see the biggest flow from the neighboring countries: Lithuania, Poland and Latvia. Germany is fourth in the number of visa-free tourists, the sport and tourism department said. Since the beginning of 2019 the region has welcomed over 36,600 visa-free tourists. It was about 18,000 tourists in the same period of last year.

“During the May holidays we usually have many guests with visas and also many visitors from Russia. Travel agencies have registered an unprecedented high flow of tourists. Another clearly notable trend: after a visit to Grodno foreigners usually come back with a visa to lean more about the country, visit the castles in Mir, Nesvizh, Novogrudok, to see Minsk and other cities,” the department sad. Warm weather and the start of the season of outdoor activities contribute to the increase in the number of tourists. For example, almost all hotels in Grodno are already booked for the summer.

Decree No. 462 on the visa-free entry and departure of foreign nationals came into force on 1 January 2018. The visa-free zone near Grodno was expanded to cover the entire Grodno District. Visa-free entry is available via road checkpoints and also checkpoints located at railway terminals and airports. In 2018 Grodno welcomed over 92,000 visa-free visitors.