Intercity Public Transport in Serbia Twice as Expensive as European Average

Bus transport is of crucial importance for the functioning of local economy and is the most represented form of transport of passengers in Serbia, but the fare prices are twice as expensive as the EU average, writes the monthly publication “Biznis i finansije”.

The biggest concentration of the market is local, because, on around two thirds of all lines, transport is done by only one bus transporter on each.

Bus stations incite sale of tickets at counters at the expense of online sale or the sale of tickets in vehicles and use their position to charge higher prices for transporters which are not connected with them. Spas and mountain places, where 50% of overnight stays of tourists in Serbia are made, are most frequently available exclusively by car or bus, says the survey of the intercity public transport in Serbia, jointly prepared by the Commission for Protection of Competition and the World Bank.

According to the data of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, around 80% lines in Serbia are longer than 250 or shorter than 100 kilometers. The most frequent lengths are 25 to 50 kilometers, because most cities are not directly connected by railway, so buses are the main form of local public transport.

Although the per capita income in Serbia is around 41% of the average in 27 EU member states, fare prices per kilometer on lines between larger, but also smaller cities, are nearly twice as high as the average price in EU countries.

Privredna komora Srbije

FlixBus RS d.o.o. Beograd

CCIS

public transport in Serbia

public transport prices

intercity transport

bus transporters