Tourism in Serbia
Tourism in Serbia is officially recognised as a primary area for economic and social growth.[1] The hotel and catering sector accounted for approximately 2.2% of GDP in 2015.[2] Tourism in Serbia employs some 75,000 people, about 3% of the country's workforce.[1] In recent years the number of tourists is increasing, especially foreign ones for about hundred thousand arrivals more each year. Major destinations for foreign tourists are Belgrade and Novi Sad, while domestic tourists prefer spas and mountain resorts.[3]
Tourism in Serbia | |
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![]() Map of Serbia | |
Time zone | UTC+1 (Central European Time) |
Area code(s) | + 381 |
Website | Official Tourist webpage |
Economy of Serbia |
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Overview |
Sectors |
Serbia topics |
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History
Origins
The origin of tourism in Serbia is connected to the abundance of thermal and mineral springs, so much, that history of Serbian tourism is sometimes equaled to the history of Serbian spas (Serbian word for spa, banja, became part of numerous toponyms). Some of them had 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.[4] 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.[5][6] 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.[7]
Roman successors, the Byzantines, continued to use the spas.[4] 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 large pool, numerous smaller cooling pools (as the thermal water was too hot), and large living and dressing rooms.[8] They were opened for both the gentry and the commoners.[4] 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 were bound to pay for any damage or shortage during caravan's stay in their facilities.[9]
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.[4] 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.[8] Some of the hamams survived until today, like in Sokobanja, while several are still in use (Brestovačka Banja, Novopazarska Banja).[4] Hills east of Belgrade remained popular excursion sites during the Ottoman period. Upper classes built numerous summer houses, especially on the Ekmekluk Hill, today known as Zvezdara.[10]
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.[11][12] The very first kafana in Belgrade, an oriental-style bistro, was opened in 1522 and was arguable the oldest venue of that type in Europe. It served only Turkish coffee, but later some offered nargile also.[13][14][15] Despite frequent Ottoman–Habsburg wars in the 17th and 18th century, and change of occupational rulers in Belgrade and northern Serbia, the number of kafanas was always high.[16]
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.[9]
Early modern developments
Early roots of modern tourism in Serbia can be traced to the 19th century. 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. Until 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.[4][17][18]
Hospitality services in towns in time diversified in 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.[19] In 1847, the ruling prince Alexander Karađorđević codified work of the hospitality objects.[20] 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 European style of entertainment.[19][21] 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).[19][22][23][24][25][26]
Though development of tourism was boosted by the burgeoning middle class,[4] many still weren't able to travel around the state so the further excursion areas around the cities developed. Main area now became the southern hills of Belgrade. The first was Topčider Park. Planting of the park began in the 1830s. After the Topčider railway station station was built in 1884, and later introduction of the tram line No. 3, it became accessible to everyone from downtown.[27] The neighboring forest in Košutnjak followed when the former royal hunting ground from the 1840s was adapted into the public park in 1903. Due to the beneficial climate conditions, the summer sanatorium for children was built in the forest.[28] Former artificial Lake Kijevo was formed in 1901. As Kijevo also had its own raliway station, special touristic trains were organized for transporting the Belgraders.[29]
Major development of tourism in the early 20th century was cut by the outbreak of World War I.[4]
Interbellum
![](../I/SerbiaOwnMapEN.jpg.webp)
In 1918 Serbia became part of the new state, later named Yugoslavia. In Serbian proper, spas remained basically 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, Vrenjačka Banja had five times more visitors than Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic coast (in modern Croatia), arguably the most popular resort in former Yugoslavia.[30]
Post-war period
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.[30]
In 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.[31]
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.[32][33] [34][35][36][37]
Year | Arrivals | Domestic | Foreign |
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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 |
Year | Arrivals | Domestic | Foreign |
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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 |
Year | Arrivals | Domestic | Foreign |
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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 |
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 |
Year | Arrivals | Domestic | Foreign |
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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.[31] 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 2000's. For example, Jošanička Banja was closed, Niška Banja was basically out of use, while Vrnjačka Banja and Sokobanja boomed. In spas, new hotels were built, so as many wellness centers.[30]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism industry in Serbia is facing huge financial multimillion losses. The number of overall tourist arrivals in 2020 is the smallest in the past two decades, but it's expected to recover and stabilise within near future. [38]
Internationally known annual events
Name | Location | Month | Type of Festival |
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Küstendorf Film and Music Festival | Drvengrad | January | Film and Music Festival |
Gitarijada | Zaječar | June | Rock and Roll Music Festival |
Palić European Film Festival | Palić | July | European Film festival |
EXIT Festival | Novi Sad | July | Electronic Music Festival |
Guča Trumpet Festival | Guča | August | Brass Band Festival |
Nišville | Niš | August | Jazz Music Festival |
Lovefest | Vrnjačka Banja | August | Electronic Music Festival |
Beer Days | Zrenjanin | August | Beer Festival |
Leskovac Grill Festival | Leskovac | September | Grilled Meat Festival |
Statistics
Arrivals per year
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Arrivals by country
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Gallery
References
- Serbia Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, in: Alain Dupeyras (ed.) (2012). OECD tourism trends and policies 2012. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development. ISBN 9789264177567. p. 403–407.doi:10.1787/tour-2012-56-en
- https://mtt.gov.rs/download/3/STRATEGIJA%20RAZVOJA%20TURIZMA%20RS%20%202016-2025.pdf
- "Туризам и угоститељство (Tourism and catering trade)" (PDF). 2017-10-19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "Banje u Srbiji: Istorija banja u Srbiji - Istorija srpskog turizma" [Spas in Serbia: History of spas in Serbia - History of tourism in Serbia]. Politika (in Serbian). 15 December 2020.
- "Od beogradske spavaonice do poslovnog centra" [Depo has been sold]. Politika-Magazin, No. 1037 (in Serbian). 13 August 2017. p. 16.
- Zorica Atić (26 August 2017). "Misteriozni kamenovi iz Brestovika" [Mysterious stones from Brestovik]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 13.
- Tanjug (15 April 2017). "Ada Huja postaje izletište i stambeno-komercijalna zona" [Ada Huja becomes an excursion site and a residential-commercial zone]. Politika (in Serbian).
- Gvozden Otašević (January 2012), "Ovčar Banja dobila zvanje" [Ovčar Banja receives title], Politika (in Serbian)
- Grozda Pejčić (2006). Угоститељско туристичка школа - некад и сад 1938-2006 [Hospitality-touristic school - then and now 1938-2006]. Belgrade: Draslar Partner. pp. 24–28.
- Slobodan Giša Bogunović (3 September 2011), "Biodiverzitet na roštilju" [Grilled biodiversity], Politika (in Serbian)
- Daliborka Mučibabić (21 January 2010). "Skadarlija vraća izgubljeni boemski duh" (in Serbian). Politika.
- Branka Vasiljević, Ana Vuković (30 April 2018). "Duša i gostoljublje Skadarlije" [Soul and hospitality of Skadarlija]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 18.
- Filip Gajić (15 December 2018). "Kafane starog Beograda" [Old Belgrade kafanas] (in Serbian). Pulse.rs & AAH!.
- Goran Vesić (14 September 2018). "Прва европска кафана - у Београду" [First European kafana - in Belgrade]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 12.
- Vladimir Arsenijević (9 July 2018). "Pohvala razvoju beogradske kafe-kulture: kafana" [Praise to the development of the Belgrade's coffee-culture: kafana]. Politika (in Serbian).
- Goran Vesić (26 April 2019). "Имена кафана говоре о друштву и менталитету" [Kafanas names testify about the society and mentality]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
- Mitchell, Laurence (2013). Serbia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 307. ISBN 978-1-84162-463-1.
- "Краљевске бање Србије". Politika Online. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- Branka Vasiljević, Zoran Golubović (22 April 2019). "Beogradu kafana suđena" [Kafana, destined to Belgrade]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
- Goran Vesić (13 March 2020). Кратка историја београдског пиварства [Short history of Belgrade's beer brewing]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
- Dimitrije Bukvić, Milorad Stokin (31 March 2019). "Posle posta – provodadžisanje" [Matchmaking after the fasting]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 8.
- Goran Vesić (22 May 2020). Хотел "Српска круна" [Hotel "Srpska Kruna"]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 16.
- Milan Janković (6 May 2019). "Hoteli i kafane – spomenici kulture" [Hotels and kafanas - cultural monuments]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 15.
- Dejan Aleksić (7–8 April 2018). "Razglednica koje više nema" [Postcards that is no more]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 22.
- Valentina Branković (26 September 2016). "Najbolje beogradske kafane svih vremena" [The best Belgrade kafanas of all times]. TT Group (in Serbian).
- Goran Vesić (10–12 April 2020). Мали пијац и Савамала [Little Market and Savamala]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 20.
- Dragan Perić (26 November 2017), "Topčider - prvo beogradsko izletište" [Topčider - Belgrade's first excursion area], Politika-Magazin, No. 1052 (in Serbian), pp. 28–29
- Anica Teofilović, Vesna Isajlović, Milica Grozdanić (2010). Пројекат "Зелена регулатива Београда" - IV фаѕа: План генералне регулације система зелених површина Београда (концепт плана) [Project "Green regulations of Belgrade" - IV phase: Plan of the general regulation of the green area system in Belgrade (concept of the plan)] (PDF). Urbanistički zavod Beograda.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Branka Vasiljević (29 August 2015), "Okopnilo jezero koje je posećivao i Albert Ajnštajn" [Lake visited by Albert Einstein is drained], Politika (in Serbian)
- Dimitrije Bukvić (18 October 2020). "Renesansa banjskog turizma" [Renaissance of spa tourism]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 9.
- Marat Terterov (ed.) (2006). Doing business with Serbia Archived 2016-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, second edition. London: GMB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905050-14-7. p.177.
- Dušan Miljković, ed. (February 1989). Jugoslavija 1918-1988 - statistički godišnjak. Belgrade: Federal Statistical Office. p. 342.
- Dragutin Grupković, ed. (August 1992). Statistical Yearbook of Yugoslavia 1992. Belgrade: Federal Statistical Office. p. 328. ISBN 86-7479-018-6.
- Dragutin Grupković, ed. (January 1993). "Statistical pocket book - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1993". Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Belgrade: Federal Statistical Office: 43. ISSN 0351-4900.
- Dragutin Grupković, ed. (January 1994). "Statistical pocket book - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1994". Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Belgrade: Federal Statistical Office: 43. ISSN 0351-4900.
- Milovan Živković, ed. (January 1994). "Statistical pocket book - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1995". Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Belgrade: Federal Statistical Office: 46. ISSN 0351-4900.
- Milovan Živković, ed. (January 1996). "Statistical pocket book - FR Yugoslavia 1996". Statistical Pocket-Book, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Belgrade: Federal Statistical Office: 46. ISSN 0354-3803.
- "Turizam u Srbiji trpi milionske gubitke". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- "2003 статистика". srbija.travel. Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "2004 стастика". srbija.travel. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "2005 статистика". srbija.travel. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "2006 статистика". srbija.travel. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "2007 статистика". srbija.travel. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "2008 статистика". srbija.travel. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "2009-2013 статистика" (PDF). srbija.travel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- "2014 статистика" (PDF). srbija.travel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- "Републички завод за статистику – Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Serbia – Tourism, 2015" (PDF). 2015-10-05. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "Туристички промет - децембар 2016 (2016 statistics)" (PDF). Labour Force Survey. 2017-01-26. ISSN 0353-9555. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
- "Туристички промет - децембар 2017. (2017 statistics)" (PDF). Labour Force Survey. 2017-12-29. ISSN 0353-9555. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- "Office of the Republic of Serbia, data for 2018" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-04-04.
- "Office of the Republic of Serbia, data for 2019" (PDF).
- "Office of the Republic of Serbia, data for 2020" (PDF).
Further reading
- Ana Nikolov (29 July 2005). "Beograd – grad na rekama". Institut za Arhitekturu i Urbanizam Srbije. Retrieved 2007-06-05. Cite journal requires
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(help) - "Zbogom, oazo!" (in Serbian). Kurir. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
- Beoinfo (4 August 2005). "Prirodno dobro "Veliko ratno ostrvo" stavljeno pod zaštitu Skupštine grada" (in Serbian). Ekoforum. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
- Eve-Ann Prentice (10 August 2003). "Why I love battereBelgrade". The Guardian Travel. London. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
- Seth Sherwood (16 October 2005). "Belgrade Rocks". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
- Barbara Gruber (22 August 2006). "Belgrade's Nightlife Floats on the Danube". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
- "Slovenci dolaze u jeftin provod" (in Serbian). Glas Javnosti. 21 December 2004. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- "U Beograd na vikend-zabavu" (in Croatian). Večernji list. 6 January 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-15. Alt URL
- Dulovic, Vladimir (1 February 2013). "The Oldest Houses In Belgrade". Livinginbelgrade.com.
- "Znamenite građevine 3" (in Serbian). Official site. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- Scurlock, Gareth (4 November 2008). "Europe's best nightlife". London: Official site. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- "The world's top 10 party towns". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
- "Exit Festival Official Websiyr". Archived from the original on 2012-02-10.
External links
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Serbia. |
- National Tourism Organization of Serbia
Media related to Tourism in Serbia at Wikimedia Commons