Opinion: European citizens come to Belarus despite obstacles created by Western leaders

Since the extension of the visa-free list on July 19th, 2024, Belarus has been visited more than 12,000 foreigners from 35 countries included into the extended visa-free list. According to the recent statistics, tourists from Germany and Estonia visited most often, and the top five countries whose citizens enjoyed visa-free travels also included Italy, the United Kingdom, and France. In his talk with Alfa Radio, the Dean of the Journalism Department at the Belarusian State University, political expert Aleksei Belyaev, stated that the number of such European tourists will continue growing, despite the obstacles.

“Western countries are pursuing an unfriendly policy. Their governments, for example, ban Belarusian information channels so that Europeans do not know anything about the republic. However, such steps do stop people: citizens of Germany, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania are still coming to Belarus. Here they see real life and later share their impressions on social networks. It is very good. In two years, about a million people have used the visa-free regime to visit hospitable Belarus, despite the existing obstacles: long queues on the border and inspections. Nevertheless, tourists come to taste Belarusian cuisine, walk along the beautiful clean streets, look at the historical and architectural sights. I think that the number of foreign visitors coming to the republic from Europe will grow. People's diplomacy works in spite of government barriers," the expert shared his opinion.