Despite political antagonisms, Belorussian travelers proceed to Lithuania

Belorussians head to Lithuania in growing numbers

Despite the Belorussian ruble’s devaluation last year and a row with the European Union leading to economic sanctions, Belorussians keep hopping onto Lithuania-bound buses and trains to enjoy shopping in Western-style supermarkets and malls.
The increase of Belarusian tourists last year was 50 percent in Vilnius, and approximately 26 percent in entire Lithuania.

Belorussian tourist agencies claim that Lithuania, especially Vilnius, is the number one destination for most Belorussians. “Most customers prefer short-term trips to Lithuania, usually lasting from Friday to Sunday, when there are more trains between Minsk and Vilnius. The average price of the fare is only 20 euros. Bus fare for the trip is pretty much the same, but most people prefer trains,” Liudmila Silko, deputy director of Mega Dialog, a Belorussian travel agency, told Delfi.

Too early to make predictions

Yevgeniy, a Belorussian who wants to withhold his surname, says he goes to Lithuania for shopping and entertainment twice a year despite economic difficulties. “I am eager to get out of Belarus, at least for a shopping trip. With the proximity to Lithuania, part of the European Union, many Belorussians see it as a gateway to the West. For many of my compatriots, Lithuania is what Germany or Italy meant for people of the ex-Soviet Union during the Soviet era: an abundance of goods, excellent service and a free atmosphere,” the Belorussian says.

However, he notes that long waits for visas encumbers travel to Lithuania and deters some people from it completely.

Fewer low-budget travelers, more money bags

Gintaras Siciūnas, president of Palanga’s Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRA), says that the resort has been enjoying a lot higher flow of Belorussians in recent years. “They are very good clients and we are always looking forward to seeing them in Palanga’s hotels and restaurants,” Siciūnas told The Baltic Times.

He notes, however, that the last Slavic Easter has not drawn as many tourists to Palanga as was expected, but he says Russians and Belorussians are actively checking out Palanga through calls and e-mails. “Speaking of the Belorussian ruble crisis, it has translated into fewer Palanga-bound tourists, but the loss was compensated by an increase in well-to-do Belorussians,” the PHRA president emphasized.

“Most Belorussians, especially those of older generations, come to Palanga driven by nostalgia for the resort they used to come to in their youth, when Palanga was a major destination for holiday makers from the entire Soviet Union. Younger Belorussians come here in search of Western-type services and amusement,” notes Jolanta Krasauskienė, representative of Palanga-based travel agency Baltic Visit.

Belorussians discover Tourism Information Centers

Jolanta Beniulienė, director of Vilnius Tourism Information Center (VTIC), claims the number of Belorussians bound for Vilnius is on a constant rise as more visitors stop by local Tourism Information Centers. “Unlike Westerners, Belorussians were less frequent visitors to them, but that is changing,” notes Beniulienė.

Nearly 400 Belorussians visited Vilnius Tourism Information Center in March, while 378 popped into the Center in January, compared to only 103 visitors during the same month last year.
The VTIC director attributes the increase to, among other things, the Belorussian-language publication V Litvu, which is published by the VTIC and distributed in Belarus free of charge.
“Belarus is our nearest neighbor. However, because of the complicated political situation, the country has been quite isolated. Therefore, those inhabitants, who are capable of getting out, come happily to Lithuania and enjoy its services, shopping and recreation, all of which, they say, are a lot better on this side of the border,” says the director.

Tougher EU sanctions

Many express concern over new EU sanctions against Belarus and their impact on tourism. “Lukashenko has been deservedly called the last European dictator. Bearing in mind his unpredictability and animosity to the West, he can take drastic measures, for example, severely tightening Lithuanian-Belorussian border control and hampering cargo transit and communication,” says Dovydas Bajūras, an entrepreneur.

This is almost happening after the European Parliament voted for an extension of EU economic and political sanctions against Belarus. They include not only an EU-travel ban on more Belorussian politicians and policy makers - and not only for diplomats, as it was before - but also certain restrictions on Belorussian exports and cargo transit.

“The latter has been an extremely painful thing for Belarus, as the EU is incomparably more important for Belarus than Belarus is for the EU. I believe the new sanctions will play a positive role in forcing Minsk to free political prisoners and stop cracking down on its citizens,” says Jacek Protasiewicz, MEP and head of delegation for EU and Belarus relations.

Lithuanian truckers stuck at the border

However, the Belorussian response - loosening out-bound cargo and passenger traffic control and tightening in-bound EU cargo regulations, led with threats to cut off cargo haulage from third countries through Lithuania, especially via Klaipėda Seaport, make many Lithuanian entrepreneurs uneasy. “This is the classic example when business suffers because of politics,” says Viktoras Jankauskas, a hauler.

Vladimiras Drazin, Belorussian plenipotentiary and extraordinary ambassador to Lithuania, has poured gas on the fire, giving a detailed estimate of what would happen if Belarus switched Klaipėda Seaport-bound transit to other countries. “If we cut it off, Lithuania will lose 7 billion litas (2 billion euros) right away. The seaport will be forced to lay off 3,500 workers. This would be our (fair) reaction to the EU sanctions,” the ambassador emphasized to Regnum, a Russian news agency.

Lithuanian government officials were quick to calm the situation, saying that the extra sanctions will be imposed only against Belorussian oligarchs, not state enterprises. That does not placate Jankauskas: “Some Lithuanian truckers bearing bilateral permits to haul their cargo from third countries through Belarus have been stuck on the border for quite some time. It is unlikely the situation will change anytime soon. Lithuania is just a pawn in the game, incapable of changing the rules.”