In January of this year, Serbia saw a notable rise in both tourist arrivals and overnight stays, despite claims from officials that student protests had negatively impacted the tourism sector. According to the Republic Institute of Statistics, tourist arrivals increased by 16.1% compared to January of last year, while overnight stays grew by 16.7%.
Domestic tourists contributed to a 15.1% rise in overnight stays, while the number of overnight stays by foreign tourists saw an even larger increase of 18.6%.
President Aleksandar Vučić recently remarked at the Tourism Fair in Belgrade that December 2024 had set a record for tourist arrivals, but he noted that January and February are typically challenging months due to “irresponsible and frivolous” behavior. He pointed out that while January showed a 16% increase, February saw a 7% drop in the first ten days. He emphasized the importance of hard work and commitment, stating, “Serbia will win, we will return to the best tracks and improve all these results.”
Official data from the Republic Institute of Statistics also highlighted significant growth in certain regions. Spas saw a 13.5% increase, and mountain destinations experienced a remarkable 26.7% rise in tourist arrivals. However, Novi Sad saw a decline in tourist numbers, dropping by 10.7%. Notably, Gamzigradska Banja saw the most substantial growth among spas, with an impressive 233.3% increase in attendance.
Three mountain regions—Rudnik, Stara Planina, and Golija—also experienced a surge in tourist arrivals, with each seeing an increase of more than 100%.
