More Russians opt for Belarus for holiday

Friday, September 9, 2022

Increasing numbers of Russians are opting for neighboring Belarus for their next holiday for gaining access to Western goods and financial facilities no longer obtainable at home due to sanctions levied on Moscow as a result of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Dissimilar to Russia, most foreign merchants and foremost payment businesses maintain an existence in ex-Soviet Belarus that is often labeled as the ‘last dictatorship in Europe.’

Yelena Shitikova, an executive at a Arkhangelsk area travel agency said that brands like H&M, Bershka and Pull & Bear left Russia, but in Belarus, they can dress in these brands from top to bottom.

With numerous everyday flights and trains between Moscow and Minsk, Belarus has become a progressively desirable destination for Russians willing to buy Western goods or open a bank account issuing Visa or MasterCard debit cards that are no longer offered in Russia.

Governed by close Kremlin confederate Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus was utilized as a staging area for Russian troops and missile launchers during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, in spite of the concerns stated by Kyiv, Lukashenko has denied that the Belarusian military has stepped into the Ukrainian land, allowing Minsk to evade the most austere Western prohibitions.

There is over 60% upsurge in bookings of tours to Belarus.

Tour agency FUN&SUN arranged of four-day shopping trips to Belarusian capital Minsk valued at 16,750 rubles ($279) per person at the end of August.

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