Tour operators in Daugavpils continue to arrange tours to Belarus
In light of the current security risks and political unrest, it is advisable to refrain from traveling to Belarus for tourism purposes. The U.S. Department of State, among other authorities, has issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Belarus, citing unrest and various safety concerns.
Despite Belarus' efforts to attract tourists, such as expanding visa-free entry and electronic visa systems, and hosting international events like the CIS Games without incident, these initiatives do not eliminate the overarching security risks. Reports have surfaced of detentions of Latvian citizens, and state security services have issued warnings about arbitrary detentions and limited legal protections for visitors, particularly from neighboring countries.
Travel risk management experts and government advisories urge reconsidering or avoiding travel due to these risks. The geopolitical tensions in the region and incidents such as detentions contribute to a volatile environment for tourists.
Lepel, a town in Belarus with an army sanatorium, is one of the destinations that tour operators continue to offer. However, it's important to note that no companies traveling to Belarus are members of the Latvian Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, which accounts for approximately 80% of outbound tourism.
Minsk, the capital, offers tourist activities such as husky carriage rides. Prices for services and sanatoriums are cheaper in Belarus, making it an attractive destination for some. However, the State Security Service has warned of high risks of intelligence and recruitment in Belarus, adding to the concerns about travel safety.
Since 2022, 41 Latvian citizens have been detained in Belarus. The Foreign Ministry has been advising against travel to Belarus for several years, and the number of buses entering Belarus has decreased, according to observations by the State Border Guard.
The Association suggests reducing travel to Belarus not by prohibition but by supporting mechanisms to reorient to other markets. One example of such a mechanism is the restoration of passenger trains from Daugavpils to Vilnius.
In summary, while Belarus promotes tourism actively, authoritative security assessments and government advisories strongly recommend against traveling there for tourism at this time due to safety and security concerns, including detentions and political unrest. It is essential to exercise caution and heed these warnings when making travel decisions.
- Despite NATO and EU member states' concerns over the increasing political unrest and security risks in Belarus, the country continues to promote tourism, offering attractions such as husky carriage rides in Minsk.
- Travel risk management experts and government advisories like the US Department of State urge reconsidering travel to Belarus due to these risks, citing a volatile environment for tourists caused by geopolitical tensions and incidents like detentions.
- Tour operators in Latvia have discontinued trips to Belarus, and the Latvian Foreign Ministry has been advising against travel to the country for several years, owing to a significant number of detentions of Latvian citizens in Belarus since 2022.
