Uroš Kandić, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, stated today that most citizens have combined their Easter and Labor Day holidays and traveled to some of Serbia’s most popular tourist destinations.
“Most people have combined the holidays, and traditionally, the destinations have remained largely the same for years. At the top are Zlatibor, followed by the two most popular spas, Vrnjačka Banja and Sokobanja, then Kopaonik, Fruška Gora, the Danube region, Srebrno Lake, Golubac, and other destinations. All of Serbia’s top tourist spots are almost 100% booked,” Kandić told RTS. He also mentioned that this year, there has been a 10% decrease in the number of people traveling abroad.
Kandić emphasized that prices in previous years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, have risen faster than inflation. “Last year, the year-over-year increase in hospitality prices was around 13-14%, while inflation was about 4%. Now, that has somewhat stabilized, and in a survey we conducted with key destinations, we see that prices are the same as last year. This is crucial to maintaining the balance between price and quality, which is key for the competitiveness of our tourism,” he said. He also pointed out that tourism is one of the most sensitive sectors to political instability, adding that there has been a 4% decline in tourism traffic in Serbia in the first four months of this year compared to last year.
Kandić also mentioned an increase in the number of foreign tourists coming to Serbia, but a decline in domestic tourism. “We are noticing about 10% fewer domestic tourists compared to last year. I hope that the voucher program we launched a month ago will help improve this situation, and by the end of the year, we will have a positive balance,” Kandić said. He added that even a slight increase compared to last year would meet the ministry’s plans. “We would be satisfied with a modest growth, as last year was a record year for tourism. If this year matches or slightly surpasses last year, we will be absolutely happy,” he explained.
Regarding tourist voucher applications, Kandić stated that tourists can only use them a month after they are issued. He noted that Serbian spas occasionally offer discounts for the elderly, allowing them to enjoy benefits without needing a voucher. Kandić also highlighted that, for foreign tourists, Belgrade remains the most popular destination. “For years, every second foreign tourist has visited Belgrade. The number of foreign tourists has grown, and this year, we have about 2% more than last year. Tourists from Turkey, China, and Russia are maintaining high numbers, and lately, we are also seeing more tourists from North Macedonia. This year, for the first time, tourists are coming from Cyprus to Vrnjačka Banja, which is an interesting phenomenon that we expect to become a trend,” he noted.
Kandić emphasized that Serbia’s image as a tourist destination has significantly improved in recent years. “The hospitality of our people has made foreign visitors feel comfortable and eager to return. This is a country with a thousand gastronomic flavors, one of the best cuisines in this part of Europe, as well as cultural and historical monuments and pristine nature. An important factor is also the price-to-quality ratio, which keeps us competitive,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of connectivity with the rest of the world, noting that Serbia’s national airline, Air Serbia, flies to more than 80 destinations. “I hope there will be even more this summer, and these are all factors that influence the influx of foreign tourists,” Kandić concluded, as reported by Tanjug.
