Фото: Christoph Schulz, unsplash.com
More than 3,000 Belarusian tourists who purchased travel packages through agencies are currently in Middle Eastern countries. This was reported on the air of “First National” by Kiryla Masharsky, director of the National Tourism Agency.
More than 2,500 tourists are in the United Arab Emirates, 319 are in Oman, and about 200 people are in Qatar.
According to Masharsky, after the closure of airspace, the Agency established contact with all Belarusian diplomatic missions in the region.
“Work was promptly organized at the diplomatic missions, a hotline was opened, and calls are being received from our citizens. There is absolutely no panic; we are simply informing our citizens and recommending that they remain in their accommodation facilities, avoid government districts or places where there are military facilities, stay in their accommodation facilities and calmly go about their daily activities while awaiting resolution of the situation,” Masharsky said.
The temporary chargé d’affaires in Qatar met with 186 tourists in Doha who are awaiting their return to Belarus. The issue of evacuating Belarusians from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia is being addressed.
“Our operators and diplomats are facilitating the extension of our citizens’ stays in accommodation facilities free of charge for the time being. For us, it is a matter of principle to assist our citizens — we are in contact, a hotline is also open at our National Tourism Agency, and there is a hotline at our diplomatic missions. They acted very promptly and remain in constant contact with our citizens,” Masharsky stated.
It should be recalled that Belavia plans a charter flight to Doha on March 3. The Minsk–Dubai–Minsk flight has once again been canceled.