A million Serbian citizens to spend their summer holidays abroad again in 2016

Each year, around a million people from Serbia go abroad for their summer holidays. Of those, almost 800,000 travel abroad through travel agencies, whereas the rest is comprised of individual travelers. This year, however, the number of Serbian tourists who have gone abroad through travel agencies has dropped by 7%. Greece remains the top destination.

– By the end of the year, the number of travels through agencies will have additionally decreased, and such a trend hasn't been seen in the last eight years. Bad weather conditions and terrorist attacks are some of the reasons for the drop in the sales of arrangements – said Aleksandar Senicic, CEO at the National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia.

As he said, most individual travels are to Montenegro in the summer season, with around 300,000 local tourists visiting the neighboring country during the summer holidays every year.

– There's only a small number of travels to Croatia through travel agencies, but a large number of people go there individually. Around 40,000 people spend their summer holidays at the Croatian seaside. The interest in Bulgaria, Italy and Spain has increased as well, relative to last year. This is due to a better offer, more destinations being available and charter flights having been introduced. Egypt and Tunisia are slowly recovering, but they're nowhere near where they used to be. We're talking no more than several hundred people – Senicic explained.

Turkey has recorded a drop of 60% relative to last year. A large number of charter flights and bus tickets have been canceled. Tourists are, of course, worried for their safety.

– Our travelers still like to spend their holidays in Greece the most, so around 550,000 people will go there through travel agencies this year. There are no precise data about individual travels, but they are estimated at 25% of those made through agencies.

PU YUTA Beograd

holidays abroad

summer holidays abroad

travel agencies in Serbia

Aleksandar Senicic

National Association of Travel Agencies

YUTA

individual travels