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The possibility of launching direct flights between Minsk and Yaroslavl is being discussed. This was announced at a press conference by Maryna Zhulina, deputy minister of tourism of Russia’s Yaroslavl Region, Sputnik Belarus reported.
According to her, a new international terminal will soon be completed near the existing Yaroslavl airport.
“Yaroslavl could serve as a hub to ease the burden on Moscow. Nearby are Kostroma, Ivanovo, Vologda and Tver regions. That means there could be a fairly large tourist flow and mutual interest. We also have good railway connections,” the regional representative said.
Currently, a direct train runs between Minsk and Yaroslavl, with a travel time of 17 hours. There are also overnight bus transfers for tourists lasting around 12–13 hours.
Zhulina also announced the expansion of the Golden Ring route into a broader tourist cluster, now covering around 50 cities, including those in Nizhny Novgorod and Tver regions. The route will mark its 60th anniversary in 2027. Four of the nine Golden Ring cities are located in Yaroslavl Region: Yaroslavl, Uglich, Rostov Veliky and Pereslavl-Zalessky.
The cluster presentation took place in Minsk and, according to Zhulina, could attract additional attention and increase tourist flows from Belarus. She noted that Belarusians already rank second in the number of tourist trips to Yaroslavl Region, after Russians themselves.