Belgrade lack hotels for the young

There are many reasons why tourists come to Belgrade. The accommodation capacity of the city is currently almost 10,000 rooms, and hotels are still being opened. However, what it lacks are hotels for the young.

In the past year, more than 30 hotels have opened in Serbia, and new ones are being announced for 2020. Most foreign tourists are interested in the capital of Serbia, which got 1,370 new accommodation units in 12 hotels in 2018. There are plenty of four-star facilities in Belgrade, but what’s missing are accommodation capacities of a lower grade, where the young could stay. In the 1980, tens of thousands of young people would stay in the city, which now doesn’t have a single hotel for student trips.

The director of Hores – the Business Association of Hotel and Restaurant Industry of Serbia, Georgi Genov, points out that Belgrade lacks large hotels for the accommodation of pupils and students coming to the city on school trips.

– We lack hostels for 200-300 people. We have only four hotels with five stars and five hotels with one or two stars, and the rest are hotels with four and three stars – Genov says.

Local hospitality is widely known and foreigners often have positive impressions when they come to Serbia. They are attracted by the nature, night life and the cuisine, but they also have some complaints.

– Hotels are criticized for the poor hygiene, whereas safety and food are rated highly at 4.5 – Genov says.

In order for the Serbian capital to be competitive on the international market, the staff in hotels and restaurants needs to constantly develop professionally. Although there are the so-called summer and winter seasons, hotels need to compensate for the costs throughout the year.

The hotels are categorized by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications and each facility needs to meet certain requirements.

According to Genov, the new law will recognize the so-called “secret guest”, who will check whether a hotel truly maintains the standards matching the number of stars it carries on behalf of Hores. This practice will start in 2020, Genov adds.

There are only four hotels remaining in Belgrade that have not been reconstruction. Those in charge announce that they will be reconstructed soon and add that the Serbian capital will have 10,000 rooms by the end of the next year.

HORES Beograd

Hores

Business Association of Hotel and Restaurant Industry of Serbia

Georgi Genov

accommodation capacities Belgrade

hotels for the young