The sociopolitical crisis affects congress tourism in Serbia, nearly every third event has been canceled

The current sociopolitical crisis in Serbia began to influence the organization of international events, fairs and manifestations. According to the information obtained by Biznis.rs in conversation with business people and organizers, the previously scheduled gatherings are increasingly getting delayed or cancelled, especially in Belgrade.

The interlocutors claim that the overall uncertainty is increasingly affected by the hoteliers and the catering sector, as the negative effects on congress tourism reflect through a small number of foreign guests in Serbia. According to their words, the number of events has been evident for 20 to 30 percent.

Director of the National Association of Tourism Agencies of Serbia "Yuta", Aleksandar Senicic, in his interview for Biznis.rs, points out that due to the entire situation in our country, up to 30 percent of tourist events and arrivals have been canceled.

- As for large events, they have not yet been canceled, and I mean, above all, the congresses that were planned for this year. And that's good news! So it will remain probably dependent on the internal political situation. We live in a modern age and everything that happens in Serbia the world public finds out very quickly, and no one likes to come into an unstable environment. Thus, the entire events certainly negatively affect this part of the economy, there is no dilemma - Senicic notes.

He says that the congress industry in Serbia, otherwise, works very well, especially since the renovated Sava Center was opened.

- We've been yearning for the congressional center for years. We now have it and it shows, with ever more smaller, medium and major congresses, increasing every year. Announcements for 2026 and 2027 are also very good. Some of the largest congresses are planned in Belgrade and now that we have several halls and a central plenary hall that can accommodate us in order of countries with complete infrastructure for the organization of the most demanding and largest gatherings. That is what is good in the whole story - Senicic notes.

However, according to his opinion, one cannot predict how the whole year will unfold, when it comes to congresses and foreigners who come to our country.

- Given the internal political situation, it is very difficult to forecast. Cancellations for now have, they are not as drastic, but also these 20-30 percent tell us that we are currently not the safest destination from the point of view of foreign guests - Aleksandar Senicic concludes.

Number of hotel guests reduced

The director of the Serbian hotel and restaurants' business association "HORES", Georgi Genov, confirms for Biznis.rs that the entire situation in the country also affects hoteliers .

- It is reflected in the number of guests, because the number of foreign participants' arrivals for international events was reduced. Here I first think about congresses, conferences and seminars. As for the events organized in hotels, there is a movement of the term, and even until the level of about 20 percent, Genov states.

The "HORES" director states that the problem is that the countries in the region, such as Croatia and Slovenia, are also not recommended for travel to Serbia.

"The same situation is with Bulgaria, which did not officially publish their data, but the tourist agencies and tour operators simply suspend their arrivals. The occupancy and capacity does not look good at all. We will soon have official information, because we conduct a survey among hoteliers, caterers and congress centers - adds Genov.

PU YUTA Beograd

HORES Beograd

National Association of Tourist Agencies of Serbia

Yuta

Hores

Aleksandar Senicic

Georgi Genov

Congress tourism

foreign tourists