Economist Dragovan Milićević disputed government claims that the economic damage caused by protests and blockades is enormous and that Serbian tourism was “destroyed” in the first quarter of the year.
According to Milićević, Serbia actually saw more foreign visitors in early 2025 than in the same period last year, while domestic tourism declined primarily due to rising prices, which have increased faster than in the EU.
Contrary to statements by top officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić’s claim of a 22.8% drop in tourism as a direct result of protests, official statistics show that the number of tourists in the first quarter decreased by only 0.2% — a margin considered a statistical error.
Foreign visitors increased by 3.5%, accounting for 1,245,123 overnight stays — 6.6% more than the previous year, when there were no protests.
While tourism in March showed some decline compared to the previous year, Milićević notes that protests have lasted over six months, so blaming them for changes in just one month is misleading.
Notably, in Belgrade, the center of protests, foreign overnight stays in March rose by 3.5%, and domestic overnight stays increased by 7.7%, with domestic tourists in Belgrade up 11.5%, despite declines elsewhere.
The overall decrease in domestic overnight stays was 5.4%, which Milićević suggests is more likely due to rising prices than protests.
He highlights that from early 2021 to late 2024, prices for tourism services in the EU rose by 28.8%, while in Serbia they jumped 45.53%. Moreover, tourism prices in Serbia grew faster than other goods and services, increasing by 45.53% compared to a 39.3% rise in overall inflation.
