Tourism in Serbia
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Tourism in Serbia
| motto =
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Map of Serbia
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| map_caption =
| coordinates =
| timezone = Central European Time
| utc_offset = +1
| website = [https://www.serbia.travel/en Official Tourist webpage]
| area_code = + 381
}}
{{Economy of Serbia}}
Tourism in Serbia is officially recognized as a primary area for economic and social growth. The hotel and catering sector accounted for approximately 2.2% of GDP in 2015.{{Cite web |url=https://mtt.gov.rs/download/3/STRATEGIJA%20RAZVOJA%20TURIZMA%20RS%20%202016-2025.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-09-11 |archive-date=2021-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716120454/https://mtt.gov.rs/download/3/STRATEGIJA%20RAZVOJA%20TURIZMA%20RS%20%202016-2025.pdf |url-status=dead }} Tourism in Serbia employs some 120 000 people, about 4.5% of the country's workforce. In recent years the number of tourists is increasing. In 2019, tourism generated an income of nearly $1.698 billion, hosting 1.85 million tourists. {{Cite web|url=https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/ci/story/124/drustvo/3770672/srbija-ove-godine-od-turizma-zaradila-gotovo-milijardu-i-po-evra.html|title = Србија ове године од туризма зарадила готово милијарду и по евра}} Chinese tourists were the most numerous visitors, followed by tourists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Germany.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/447665/Kinezi-i-Bosanci-najbrojniji-turisti-u-Srbiji|title=Кинези и Босанци најбројнији туристи у Србији}} In 2022, tourism earnings surged to $2.71 billion and almost 2 million tourists visited the country.{{Cite web|url=https://moravainfo.rs/ovo-su-zemlje-u-kojima-su-gradjani-srbije-trosili-najvise-novca-grcka-na-prvom-mestu|title=Ovo su zemlje u kojima su građani Srbije trošili najviše novca|date=25 March 2023 }} Major destinations for foreign tourists are Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš, while domestic tourists prefer spas and mountain resorts.{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.gov.rs/WebSite/repository/documents/00/02/64/14/16-Turizam.pdf|date=2017-10-19|title=Туризам и угоститељство (Tourism and catering trade)|access-date=2017-12-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024205535/http://www.stat.gov.rs/WebSite/repository/documents/00/02/64/14/16-Turizam.pdf|archive-date=2017-10-24}}
Eco-friendly and sustainable tourism has also become very popular among domestic tourists, with many visiting various nature reserves and parks in the western and southern part of the country.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/ci/story/5/ekonomija/4079610/seoski-turizam-ipard-program-finansiranje-razvoj.html|title=Како до средстава за развој сеоског туризма}} Serbia is also known for gastronomic tourism, with Belgrade being the central meeting point with over 2000 restaurants, coffee shops, bars and nightlife venues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.svetputovanja.info/gastronomija-srbije-i-specijaliteti-koji-odusevljavaju-turiste|title=Gastronomija Srbije i specijaliteti koji oduševljavaju turiste|date=16 May 2021}}
History
= Origins =
The origin of tourism in Serbia is connected to the abundance of thermal and mineral springs: so much so, that history of Serbian tourism is sometimes equated to the history of Serbian spas. (The Serbian word for spa, banja, became part of numerous toponyms.) Some of them had a wider historical and evolutionary impact as remains of the prehistoric habitats have been discovered around them. Wider, practical use came with the Roman conquest in the 1st century AD.{{cite web | url = https://banjeusrbiji.com/istorija-banja-u-srbiji/ | title = Banje u Srbiji: Istorija banja u Srbiji - Istorija srpskog turizma | trans-title = Spas in Serbia: History of spas in Serbia - History of tourism in Serbia | date = 15 December 2020 | work = Politika | language = sr}} The Romans also developed other public activities as predecessors of modern tourism, especially around Singidunum, precursor of modern Belgrade. Hilly areas east of the city, along the Danube river functioned as an excursion area, with numerous villas and summer houses for more affluent citizens.{{cite news | title = Od beogradske spavaonice do poslovnog centra | trans-title = Depo has been sold | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1037 | page = 16 | language = sr | date = 13 August 2017}}{{cite news | author = Zorica Atić | title = Misteriozni kamenovi iz Brestovika | trans-title = Mysterious stones from Brestovik | newspaper = Politika | page = 13 | date = 26 August 2017 | language = sr | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/387629/Misteriozni-kamenovi-iz-Brestovika}} In the area of Belgrade's modern neighborhoods Ada Huja and Karaburma, which were outside of the city in the Roman period, numerous thermal springs were used for public bathhouses.{{cite news | author = Tanjug | author-link = Tanjug | title = Ada Huja postaje izletište i stambeno-komercijalna zona | trans-title = Ada Huja becomes an excursion site and a residential-commercial zone | newspaper = Politika | date = 15 April 2017 | language = sr | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/378484/Ada-Huja-postaje-izletiste-i-stambeno-komercijalna-zona}}
The Byzantines, the successors to the Romans, continued to use the spas. In the medieval Serbian state, some spas prospered. There are records of springs around Čačak, modern Ovčar Banja, where "magnificent" high domes were built, with a large pool, numerous smaller cooling pools (as the thermal water was too hot), and large living and dressing rooms.{{Citation | author = Gvozden Otašević | title = Ovčar Banja dobila zvanje | trans-title = Ovčar Banja receives title | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = January 2012}} They were opened for both the gentry and the commoners. Serbia also inherited important Roman roads, like the Via Militaris, which in the Middle Ages developed into the Tsarigrad Road, with some additional trading routes developing in time. With numerous merchants and caravans traversing the country, hospitality services began to develop along the roads. They included large inns and caravan stations with spacious inner yards for keeping animals and storing goods. The inns had upper floors and sleeping rooms, and some were designated for merchants only. Emperor Dušan established an obligation called priselica by which the denizens were obliged to host domestic dignitaries and foreign representatives. It was compulsory only for the residents of the rural areas, since the towns had inns to provide the service. The innkeepers and {{Fix|text=Word missing}} were bound to pay for any damage or shortage during a caravan's stay in their facilities.{{Cite book | author = Grozda Pejčić | script-title=sr: Угоститељско туристичка школа - некад и сад 1938-2006 | trans-title = Hospitality-touristic school - then and now 1938-2006 | pages = 24–28 | year = 2006 | location = Belgrade | publisher = Draslar Partner}}
Use of spas continued after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century. The Ottomans added the specific architecture, which included Turkish baths, or hamams and specific oriental ornamentation of the spa objects. After visiting Ovčar Banja in 1664, Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi wrote that 40,000 to 50,000 people visit during the summer ("watermelon") season, but also described the spa as the location of numerous fairs and as a major trading place. Some of the hamams have survived until today, including that in Sokobanja, while several are still in use ({{ill|Brestovačka Banja|sr}}, Novopazarska Banja). Hills east of Belgrade remained popular excursion sites during the Ottoman period. The upper classes built numerous summer houses, especially on the Ekmekluk Hill, today known as Zvezdara.{{Citation | author = Slobodan Giša Bogunović | title = Biodiverzitet na roštilju | trans-title = Grilled biodiversity | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 3 September 2011}}
By the 2020s, the second most visited tourist attraction in Belgrade, providing one third of foreign currency income for the city, was the bohemian quarter Skadarlija, a vintage street dotted with kafanas.{{cite web | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/72010/Beograd/Skadarlija-vraca-izgubljeni-boemski-duh | author = Daliborka Mučibabić | title = Skadarlija vraća izgubljeni boemski duh | date = 21 January 2010 | publisher = Politika | language = sr}}{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević, Ana Vuković | title = Duša i gostoljublje Skadarlije | trans-title = Soul and hospitality of Skadarlija | newspaper = Politika | page = 18 | language = sr | date = 30 April 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/402862/Dusa-i-gostoljublje-Skadarlije}} The very first kafana in Belgrade, an oriental-style bistro, was opened in 1522 and was arguably the oldest venue of that type in Europe. It served only Turkish coffee, but later some offered nargile also.{{cite web | url = http://aah.rs/page_kafane-starog-beograda_711.html | author = Filip Gajić | title = Kafane starog Beograda | trans-title = Old Belgrade kafanas | date = 15 December 2018 | publisher = Pulse.rs & AAH! | language = sr}}{{cite news | author = Goran Vesić | title = Прва европска кафана - у Београду | trans-title = First European kafana - in Belgrade | newspaper = Politika | page = 12 | language = sr | date = 14 September 2018}}{{cite news | author = Vladimir Arsenijević | title = Pohvala razvoju beogradske kafe-kulture: kafana | trans-title = Praise to the development of the Belgrade's coffee-culture: kafana | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 9 July 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/48195/Pohvala-razvoju-beogradske-kafe-kulture-kafana}} Despite frequent Ottoman–Habsburg wars in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the change of occupying rulers in Belgrade and northern Serbia, the number of kafanas was always high.{{cite news | author = Goran Vesić | title = Имена кафана говоре о друштву и менталитету | trans-title = Kafanas names testify about the society and mentality | newspaper = Politika | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 26 April 2019}}
As Serbia remained on the main trading route connecting Middle East and western Europe, the hospitality venues along the roads continued to develop. During the Ottoman period, the caravans grew bigger, involving new animals, so the caravans of 500–650 camels were recorded. When Çelebi visited Belgrade in 1661, he counted 21 khans and 6 caravanserais. The largest was the Caravanserai of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, which had "160 chimneys", while some of the larger ones even had harem sections.
= Early modern developments =
File:Serbia-Welcoming tradition with bread and salt.jpg and salt]]
The origin of modern tourism in Serbia can be traced to the 19th century. The Serbian government, and the rulers personally, actively participated in development of the spas, by hiring foreign geologists to survey the spa waters and sending medics to the newly-formed spa centers. In time, they attracted foreign visitors, mostly from Austria-Hungary and Greece. Before World War I, Banja Koviljača, Niška Banja and Vranjska Banja emerged as the most visited spas, though Vrnjačka Banja, Sokobanja and Ribarska Banja are considered to be among the oldest. Also popular was one of the latest discovered, Mataruška Banja, which was founded in the late 19th century.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-Dd1-Rg4bUC|title=Serbia|last=Mitchell|first=Laurence|date=2013|page=307|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-463-1|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/102268/Kraljevske-banje-Srbije|title=Краљевске бање Србије|website=Politika Online|access-date=2020-01-28}}
Hospitality services in towns later diversified into numerous types: bistro, mehana, gostionica, han, saraj, lokal, krčma, bircuz, birtija, and later restoran and hotel, but until the mid-19th century they remained oriental-type venues.{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević, Zoran Golubović | title = Beogradu kafana suđena | trans-title = Kafana, destined to Belgrade | newspaper = Politika | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 22 April 2019 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/428036/Beogradu-kafana-sudena}} In 1847, the ruling prince Alexander Karađorđević codified the work of the hospitality objects.{{clarify|date=April 2024}}{{cite news | author = Goran Vesić | script-title=sr: Кратка историја београдског пиварства | trans-title = Short history of Belgrade's beer brewing | newspaper = Politika | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 13 March 2020}} The first hotel in Belgrade, "Kod Jelena", was built in 1843. Later known as "Staro Zdanje", it had the first ballroom in Belgrade and introduced the European style of entertainment.{{cite news | author = Dimitrije Bukvić, Milorad Stokin | title = Posle posta – provodadžisanje | trans-title = Matchmaking after the fasting | newspaper = Politika | page = 8 | language = sr | date = 31 March 2019 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/426280/Posle-posta-provodadzisanje}} Construction of various modern hotels began in Belgrade, including "Evropa" (1867), "Nacional" (1868), "Srpska Kruna" (1869), "Pariz" (1870), "London" (1873), "Slavija" (1883), "Moskva" (1908) and "Bristol" (1912).{{cite news | author = Goran Vesić | script-title=sr: Хотел "Српска круна" | trans-title = Hotel "Srpska Kruna" | newspaper = Politika | page = 16 | language = sr | date = 22 May 2020}}{{cite news | author = Milan Janković | title = Hoteli i kafane – spomenici kulture | trans-title = Hotels and kafanas - cultural monuments | newspaper = Politika | page = 15 | language = sr | date = 6 May 2019 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/428896/Hoteli-i-kafane-spomenici-kulture}}{{ cite news | author = Dejan Aleksić | title = Razglednica koje više nema | trans-title = Postcards that is no more | newspaper = Politika | page = 22 | language = sr | date = 7–8 April 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/401579/Razglednica-koje-vise-nema }}{{cite news | author = Valentina Branković | title = Najbolje beogradske kafane svih vremena | trans-title = The best Belgrade kafanas of all times | date = 26 September 2016 | work = TT Group | language = sr}}{{cite news | author = Goran Vesić | script-title=sr: Мали пијац и Савамала | trans-title = Little Market and Savamala | newspaper = Politika | page = 20 | language = sr | date = 10–12 April 2020}}
Though the development of tourism was boosted by the burgeoning middle class, many people were still unable to travel around the state so further excursion areas developed around the cities. The southern hills of Belgrade now became the main tourism area. Topčider Park began to be planted in the 1830s. After the Topčider railway station was built in 1884, and later the tram line No. 3 started, this park became accessible to everyone from downtown.{{Citation | author = Dragan Perić | title = Topčider - prvo beogradsko izletište | trans-title = Topčider - Belgrade's first excursion area | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1052 | pages = 28–29 | language = sr | date = 26 November 2017}} The neighboring forest in Košutnjak followed when the former royal hunting ground from the 1840s was adapted into a public park in 1903. Due to the beneficial climate conditions, the summer sanatorium for children was built in the forest.{{cite book | script-title = sr: Пројекат "Зелена регулатива Београда" - IV фаѕа: План генералне регулације система зелених површина Београда (концепт плана) | trans-title = Project "Green regulations of Belgrade" - IV phase: Plan of the general regulation of the green area system in Belgrade (concept of the plan) | date = 2010 | author = Anica Teofilović, Vesna Isajlović, Milica Grozdanić | publisher = Urbanistički zavod Beograda | url = http://mapa.urbel.com/publish/PGR-SZP-Bgd_za_JU/003_Dokumentacija_plana_Knjiga_3/009_koncept_plana_sa_Izvestajem_o_izvrsenoj_strucnoj_kontroli/Koncept_PGR_sistema_zel_povrsina_KORIGOVAN.pdf | access-date = 2020-08-20 | archive-date = 2022-01-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115184220/http://mapa.urbel.com/publish/PGR-SZP-Bgd_za_JU/003_Dokumentacija_plana_Knjiga_3/009_koncept_plana_sa_Izvestajem_o_izvrsenoj_strucnoj_kontroli/Koncept_PGR_sistema_zel_povrsina_KORIGOVAN.pdf | url-status = dead }} Former artificial Lake Kijevo was formed in 1901. As Kijevo also had its own railway station, special tourist trains were organized for the inhabitants of Belgrade.{{Citation | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Okopnilo jezero koje je posećivao i Albert Ajnštajn | trans-title = Lake visited by Albert Einstein is drained | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 29 August 2015}}
A vital boost to the development of international tourism was the construction of the first railway in 1884. In general, development of transportation always pushed tourism growth, as in 1892 when public transportation was organized in Belgrade, and after 1903 when the modern street grid was built following the arrival of first cars.{{cite news | author = Goran Vesić | title = Туризам града трећа срећа | trans-title = City tourism - third time's a charm | newspaper = Politika | page = 18 | language = sr | date = 12 March 2021}}
Major development of tourism in the early 20th century was halted by the outbreak of World War I.
= Interbellum =
In 1918 Serbia became part of the new state, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later named Yugoslavia. In Serbia, spas remained the only proper tourist centers until after World War II. Villas of the royal family and wealthy industrialists and merchants boosted the construction of mansions and hotels. They became urban centers and small towns. Visiting spas became a matter of prestige and they remained immensely popular. In 1937, Vrnjačka Banja had five times more visitors than Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic coast (in modern Croatia), arguably the most popular resort in former Yugoslavia.{{cite news | author = Dimitrije Bukvić | title = Renesansa banjskog turizma | trans-title = Renaissance of spa tourism | newspaper = Politika | page = 9 | language = sr | date = 18 October 2020 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/464779/Renesansa-banjskog-turizma}} In 1922, there were over 2 million overnight stays in the spas of the Morava Banovina alone, which covered a minority of the present Serbia territory.{{cite news | author = Dragan Delić | title = Banjska lečilišta, "zlatna koka" srpskog zdravstva | trans-title = Spa healthcare centers, "golden goose" of Serbian healthcare system | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 15 March 2021 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/474944/Pogledi/Banjska-lecilista-zlatna-koka-srpskog-zdravstva}}
In 1920, Belgrade became a stop on the route of the famed Orient Express. Also in the 1920s, the tourist traffic developed along major rivers, like the Danube, Sava and Tisza. Further growth of tourism was greatly influenced by the development of air traffic. State airline flag carrier Aeroput was founded in 1927, the same year when Belgrade's international Bežanija airport became operational. Yugoslavia soon developed a network of airports.
Belgrade was declared a tourist place in 1936. Construction of the Belgrade Fair in 1937 helped turn the city into the international tourist hot spot and pushed for fast construction of numerous hotels and other hospitality venues and the establishment of the hospitality high school. The first international fair in 1937 hosted exhibitors from 17 European, American and Asian countries. Over 310,000 people visited the exhibition, more than the population of Belgrade at the time.{{Citation | author = Daliborka Mučibabić | title = Centralna kula – stožer memorijalnog kompleksa | newspaper = Politika | pages = 19 | language = sr | date = 5 Jul 2013}}{{Citation| author =Ana Jovanović | title = Mesto za trgovinu robom i izlaganje poslovnih ponuda | newspaper = Politika | page = 15 | language = sr | date = 11 September 2017 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/388616/Mesto-za-trgovinu-robom-i-izlaganje-poslovnih-ponuda}} This was followed by numerous other exhibitions, including the first motor show, the 1938 Belgrade Car Show.{{cite news| author = Zoran Nikolić | title = Beogradske priče: Sajam automobila 1938 | trans-title = Belgrade stories: 1938 car show | newspaper = Večernje Novosti | language = sr | date = 26 December 2013}} In 1939, the Belgrade Grand Prix, precursor of modern Formula One, was organized in the city.{{Citation | author = Dragan Perić | title = Beogradski vremeplov - Pedeset krugova oko Kalemegdana za "gran-pri" | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1041 | pages = 28–29 | language = Serbian | date = 10 September 2017}}
Just as in 1914, this fast tourist development was cut short by the war.
= Post-war period =
Tourism regained major economic importance only in the 1970s. But by the 1980s Yugoslavia was an important tourist destination in the Balkans. Overnight stays were almost 12 million per year, of which about 1.5 million were by foreign tourists. The events surrounding the break-up of Yugoslavia led to a substantial decline in both leisure and business tourism.
New Communist authorities after the war made spas much more accessible. Stripped of the bourgeois elitism, the spas became centers of healthcare tourism and sites of family vacations, with numerous workers' and trade unions' retreats being built.
Number of tourists in Serbia from 1948 to 1999. Visitors from the rest of Yugoslavia (from 1992 only from Montenegro) were counted as domestic ones.{{cite book | title = Jugoslavija 1918-1988 - statistički godišnjak | date = February 1989 | page = 342 | editor = Dušan Miljković | publisher = Federal Statistical Office | location = Belgrade}}{{cite book | title = Statistical Yearbook of Yugoslavia 1992 | date = August 1992 | page = 328 | editor = Dragutin Grupković | publisher = Federal Statistical Office | location = Belgrade | isbn = 86-7479-018-6}}
{{cite journal | title = Statistical pocket book - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1993 | journal = Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | page = 43 | date = January 1993 | editor = Dragutin Grupković | publisher = Federal Statistical Office | location = Belgrade | issn = 0351-4900}}{{cite journal | title = Statistical pocket book - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1994 | journal = Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | page = 43 | date = January 1994 | editor = Dragutin Grupković | publisher = Federal Statistical Office | location = Belgrade | issn = 0351-4900}}{{cite journal | title = Statistical pocket book - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1995 | journal = Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | page = 46 | date = January 1994 | editor = Milovan Živković | publisher = Federal Statistical Office | location = Belgrade | issn = 0351-4900}}{{cite journal | title = Statistical pocket book - FR Yugoslavia 1996 | journal = Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | page = 46 | date = January 1996 | editor = Milovan Živković | publisher = Federal Statistical Office | location = Belgrade | issn = 0354-3803}}
class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+1940s & 1950s |
Year
! Arrivals ! Domestic ! Foreign |
---|
-
| 1948 | 480,000 | 463,200 | 16,800 |
-
| 1949 | 567,000 | 557,700 | 9,300 |
-
| 1950 | 754,000 | 747,200 | 6,800 |
-
| 1951 | 823,000 | 810,500 | 12,500 |
-
| 1952 | 846,000 | 826,500 | 19,500 |
-
| 1953 | 1,047,000 | 1,012,700 | 34,300 |
-
| 1954 | 865,000 | 825,300 | 39,700 |
-
| 1955 | 888,000 | 837,200 | 50,800 |
-
| 1956 | 942,000 | 877,600 | 64,400 |
-
| 1957 | 1,029,000 | 955,400 | 73,600 |
-
| 1958 | 1,131,000 | 1,043,800 | 87,200 |
-
| 1959 | 1,275,000 | 1,161,800 | 114,000 |
- |
class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+1960s |
Year
! Arrivals ! Domestic ! Foreign |
---|
-
| 1960 | 1,538,000 | 1,405,800 | 133,000 |
-
| 1961 | 1,518,000 | 1,365,000 | 153,000 |
-
| 1962 | 1,484,000 | 1,289,000 | 195,000 |
-
| 1963 | 1,634,000 | 1,361,000 | 273,000 |
-
| 1964 | 2,015,000 | 1,699,000 | 316,000 |
-
| 1965 | 2,242,000 | 1,859,000 | 383,000 |
-
| 1966 | 2,460,000 | 1,987,000 | 473,000 |
-
| 1967 | 2,578,000 | 2,057,000 | 521,000 |
-
| 1968 | 2,819,000 | 2,242,000 | 577,000 |
-
| 1969 | 3,152,000 | 2,490,000 | 662,000 |
- |
class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+1970s |
Year
! Arrivals ! Domestic ! Foreign |
---|
-
| 1970 | 3,323,000 | 2,636,000 | 687,000 |
-
| 1971 | 3,369,000 | 2,665,000 | 704,000 |
-
| 1972 | 3,373,000 | 2,673,000 | 700,000 |
-
| 1973 | 3,700,000 | 2,879,000 | 821,000 |
-
| 1974 | 3,860,000 | 3,095,000 | 765,000 |
-
| 1975 | 4,021,000 | 3,179,000 | 842,000 |
-
| 1976 | 4,144,000 | 3,297,000 | 847,000 |
-
| 1977 | 3,967,000 | 3,123,000 | 844,000 |
-
| 1978 | 4,162,000 | 3,321,000 | 841,000 |
-
| 1979 | 4,136,000 | 3,301,000 | 835,000 |
- |
class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+1980s |
Year
! Arrivals ! Domestic ! Foreign |
---|
-
| 1980 | 4,328,000 | 3,460,000 | 868,000 |
-
| 1981 | 4,386,000 | 3,533,000 | 853,000 |
-
| 1982 | 4,447,000 | 3,632,000 | 815,000 |
-
| 1983 | 4,419,000 | 3,675,000 | 744,000 |
-
| 1984 | 4,606,000 | 3,820,000 | 786,000 |
-
| 1985 | 4,746,000 | 3,899,000 | 847,000 |
-
| 1986 | 4,725,000 | 3,869,000 | 856,000 |
-
| 1987 | 4,591,000 | 3,691,000 | 900,000 |
-
| 1988 | 4,507,000 | 3,577,000 | 930,000 |
-
| 1989 | 4,158,000 | 3,217,000 | 941,000 |
- |
class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+1990s ! Year ! Arrivals ! Domestic ! Foreign |
-
| 1990 | 3,949,000 | 3,068,000 | 881,000 |
-
| 1991 | 2,823,000 | 2,476,000 | 347,000 |
-
| 1992 | 2,693,000 | 2,557,000 | 136,000 |
-
| 1993 | 2,107,000 | 2,038,600 | 68,400 |
-
| 1994 | 2,172,000 | 1,954,000 | 218,000 |
-
| 1995 | 2,432,000 | 2,228,000 | 204,000 |
-
| 1996 | | | |
-
| 1997 | | | |
-
| 1998 | | | |
-
| 1999 | | | |
- |
= 21st century =
In the twenty-first century tourism began to recover: the number of overseas visitors was 90% higher in 2004 than it had been in 2000, and revenue from foreign tourism more than tripled between 2002 and 2004, to about 220 million US dollars. By 2010 revenue from international tourism had grown to 798 million US dollars.
By 2020, there were 35 officially proclaimed and operational spas. However, many additional ones went out of work during the international sanctions in the 1990s and the transitional period in the 2000s. For example, Jošanička Banja was closed, Niška Banja was effectively out of use, while Vrnjačka Banja and Sokobanja boomed. In spas, new hotels were built, so as many wellness centers.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism industry in Serbia has faced multi-million dollar losses. The number of overall tourist arrivals in 2020 was the smallest in the past two decades, but it is expected to recover and stabilise within the near future.{{needs update|date=April 2024}}{{Cite news|title=Turizam u Srbiji trpi milionske gubitke|url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/turizam-srbija-pandemija-korona/30558905.html|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Radio Slobodna Evropa|date=16 April 2020 |language=sh|last1=Trivić |first1=Branka }}
Internationally known annual events
class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Name !Location !Month !Type of Festival |
Küstendorf Film and Music Festival
|January |Film and Music Festival |
Gitarijada
|June | Rock and Roll Music Festival |
Palić European Film Festival
|July |European Film festival |
EXIT Festival
|July |Electronic Music Festival |
Belgrade Beer Fest
|August |Beer and Music Festival |
Guča Trumpet Festival
|Guča |August |Brass Band Festival |
Nišville
|Niš |August |Jazz Music Festival |
Lovefest
|August |Electronic Music Festival |
Beer Days
|August |Beer Festival |
Leskovac Grill Festival
|September |Grilled Meat Festival |
Statistics
=Arrivals per year=
=Arrivals by country=
class="wikitable"
|+Numbers of international visitors ! ! ! ! | |||
style="color:white;"
! style="width:5px; background:#00966E;" |# ! ! style="width:190px; background:#00966E;" |Country ! style="width:50px; background:#00966E;" |Arrivals ! ! style="width:190px; background:#00966E;" |Country ! style="width:50px; background:#00966E;" |Arrivals ! ! style="width:190px; background:#00966E;" |Country ! style="width:50px; background:#00966E;" |Arrivals | |||
1
| |{{flagicon|TUR}} Turkey |201,440 | | {{flagicon|TUR}} Turkey
|232,527 | |{{flagicon|RUS}} Russia |68,538 | ||
2
| |{{flagicon|RUS}} Russia |170,884 | | {{flagicon|RUS}} Russia
|184,609 | |{{flagicon|TUR}} Turkey |66,701 | ||
3
| |{{flagicon|BIH}} Bosnia and Herzegovina |158,824 | | {{flagicon|BIH}} Bosnia and Herzegovina
|167,983 | |{{flagicon|PRC}} China incl. Hong Kong |66,645 | ||
4
| |{{flagicon|GER}} Germany |123,059 | | {{flagicon|PRC}} China incl. Hong Kong
|156,644 | |{{flagicon|BIH}} Bosnia and Herzegovina |60,573 | ||
5
| |{{flagicon|BUL}} Bulgaria |110,419 | | {{flagicon|BUL}} Bulgaria
|132,054 | |{{flagicon|MKD}} North Macedonia |54,705 | ||
6
| |{{flagicon|MKD}} North Macedonia |109,738 | | {{flagicon|GER}} Germany
|130,485 | |{{flagicon|BUL}} Bulgaria |46,927 | ||
7
| |{{flagicon|CRO}} Croatia |108,161 | | {{flagicon|CRO}} Croatia
|120,637 | |{{flagicon|MNE}} Montenegro |41,622 | ||
8
| |{{flagicon|RUM}} Romania |100,055 | | {{flagicon|MKD}} North Macedonia
|118,605 | |{{flagicon|GER}} Germany |36,804 | ||
9
| |{{flagicon|MNE}} Montenegro |96,019 | | {{flagicon|RUM}} Romania
|111,232 | |{{flagicon|RUM}} Romania |35,726 | ||
10
| |{{flagicon|PRC}} China incl. Hong Kong |92,125 | | {{flagicon|MNE}} Montenegro
|104,543 | |{{flagicon|CRO}} Croatia |31,779 | ||
11
| |{{flagicon|SLO}} Slovenia |85,051 | | {{flagicon|SLO}} Slovenia
|86,648 | |{{flagicon|GRE}} Greece |28,092 | ||
12
| |{{flagicon|GRE}} Greece |70,388 | | {{flagicon|GRE}} Greece
|74,543 | |{{flagicon|SLO}} Slovenia |24,665 | ||
13
| |{{flagicon|POL}} Poland |58,458 | | {{flagicon|POL}} Poland
|59,320 | |{{flagicon|HUN}} Hungary |19,527 | ||
14
| |{{flagicon|HUN}} Hungary |54,383 | | {{flagicon|HUN}} Hungary
|58,975 | |{{flagicon|ITA}} Italy |18,239 | ||
15
| |{{flagicon|ITA}} Italy |49,609 | | {{flagicon|ITA}} Italy
|52,182 | |{{flagicon|AUT}} Austria |15,634 | ||
!
! Total | 2,134,305
| ! Total | 2,384,735
| ! Total | 802,849 |
---|
Gallery
File:Bačka tvrđava - panoramio (10).jpg|Bač Fortress
File:Сербия, Белград, Крепость Калемегдан 01.jpg|Belgrade Fortress
File:Hram svetog save beograd 0005.jpg|Church of Saint Sava
File:National Museum of Serbia (DSC04612).jpg|National Museum of Serbia
File:Museum of Nikola Tesla, Belgrade, Serbia-cropped.JPG|Nikola Tesla Museum
File:Hills of Deliblatska pescara, Serbia.JPG|Deliblato Sands
File:Drvengrad.jpg|Drvengrad
File:Đavolja Varoš.jpg|Đavolja Varoš
File:Veliki Kazan.jpg|Đerdap National Park
File:Martin Garrix, Dance Arena, 2015.jpg|EXIT Music Festival
File:Gamzigrad - Felix Romuliana (by Pudelek) 7.JPG|Felix Romuliana
File:Odmaraliste Zmajevac na FG.jpg|Fruška Gora National Park
File:Golubac Fortress (град Голубац).jpg|Golubac Fortress
File:Kopaonik 0691.jpg|Kopaonik National Park
File:Kopaonik ski staza - panoramio.jpg|Kopaonik Ski Center
File:Крупајско врело.jpg|Krupaj Spring
File:Lazar's canyon.jpg|Lazar's Canyon
File:Monastery Manasija - Serbia.JPG|Manasija Monastery
File:Комплекс музеј и архив у Новом Саду.JPG|Museum of Vojvodina
File:Petrovaradin Fortress (Péterváradi vár, Peterwardein).JPG|Petrovaradin Fortress
File:Fortress Smederevo 11.jpg|Smederevo Fortress
File:Manastir Sopocani 2.jpg|Sopoćani Monastery
File:Stara planina14.jpg|Stara Planina Nature Park
File:Stopića Pećina2.jpg|Stopića Cave
File:Manastir Studenica (by Pudelek) 1.JPG|Studenica Monastery
File:Centar I, Subotica, Serbia - panoramio (4).jpg|Subotica City Hall
File:Sarganska osmica 1.jpg|Šargan Eight
File:Tara Vidikovac Banjska Stena 01.jpg|Tara National Park
File:Uvac_River_and_Eagle.jpg|Uvac Canyon
File:Gavran pogled na Zaovinsko jezero.jpg|Lake Zaovine
See also
References
{{Reflist|refs=
}}
Further reading
- {{cite journal | author=Ana Nikolov | title=Beograd – grad na rekama| publisher=Institut za Arhitekturu i Urbanizam Srbije | date=29 July 2005 | url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/17516 | access-date=2007-06-05}}
- {{cite web| url=http://arhiva.kurir-info.rs/Arhiva/2006/maj/23/B-01-23052006.shtml| title=Zbogom, oazo!| publisher=Kurir| date=23 May 2006| access-date=2007-06-05| language=sr| archive-date=2010-10-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020233543/http://arhiva.kurir-info.rs/Arhiva/2006/maj/23/B-01-23052006.shtml| url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web| title=Prirodno dobro "Veliko ratno ostrvo" stavljeno pod zaštitu Skupštine grada| url=http://www.ekoforum.org/index/vest.asp?vID=181| author=Beoinfo| publisher=Ekoforum| date=4 August 2005| access-date=2007-06-05| language=sr| url-status=usurped| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726020707/http://www.ekoforum.org/index/vest.asp?vID=181| archive-date=26 July 2011}}
- {{cite web| url=http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2003/aug/10/observerescapesection1| title=Why I love battereBelgrade| author=Eve-Ann Prentice| work=The Guardian Travel| date=10 August 2003| access-date=2007-05-19| location=London| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515043701/http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2003/aug/10/observerescapesection1| archive-date=15 May 2007}}
- {{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/travel/16belgrade.html?ex=1287115200&en=4cd8ccf41a41542c&ei=5088| title=Belgrade Rocks| work=The New York Times| author=Seth Sherwood| date=16 October 2005| access-date=2007-05-19}}
- {{cite web| url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2129528,00.html| title=Belgrade's Nightlife Floats on the Danube| publisher=Deutsche Welle| author=Barbara Gruber| date=22 August 2006| access-date=2007-05-19}}
- {{cite web| url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/pregled_stampe.php?yyyy=2004&mm=12&dd=21&nav_id=158386| title=Slovenci dolaze u jeftin provod| publisher=Glas Javnosti| date=21 December 2004| language=sr| access-date=2007-07-10}}
- {{cite web| url=http://www.vecernji-list.hr/newsroom/news/international/453911/print.do| title=U Beograd na vikend-zabavu| publisher=Večernji list| date=6 January 2006| language=hr| access-date=2007-06-15}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/pregled_stampe.php?yyyy=2006&mm=01&dd=08&nav_id=184523 Alt URL]
- {{cite web| title=The Oldest Houses In Belgrade| first=Vladimir| last=Dulovic| publisher=Livinginbelgrade.com| url=http://livinginbelgrade.com/story.php?id=26| date=1 February 2013| access-date=14 December 2014| archive-date=27 May 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527041832/http://livinginbelgrade.com/story.php?id=26| url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web| url=http://www.beograd.rs/cms/view.php?id=1319| title=Znamenite građevine 3| publisher=Official site| language=sr| access-date=2007-07-10}}
- {{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/music_and_travel/article5082856.ece| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011041429/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/music_and_travel/article5082856.ece| url-status=dead| archive-date=October 11, 2011| title=Europe's best nightlife | publisher=Official site| access-date=2008-04-11 | location=London | first=Gareth | last=Scurlock | date=4 November 2008}}
- {{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/travel/the-worlds-top-10-party-towns-20091118-im4q.html| title=The world's top 10 party towns| date=9 November 2009| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| access-date=2010-03-16}}
- {{cite web| url=http://eng.exitfest.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=17&Itemid=99| title=Exit Festival Official Websiyr| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210172015/http://eng.exitfest.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=17&Itemid=99| archive-date=2012-02-10}}