The National Association of Tourist Agencies of Serbia (NATAS) issued a reminder today that Serbian travelers will need to apply for the European Travel Authorization System (ETIAS) starting in 2025 to enter European Union (EU) member states.
According to NATAS, adults aged between 18 and 70 will need to pay seven euros for a one-time registration, while minors and those over 70 years old can register for free. The obtained certificate will be valid for travel to all EU member states for the next three years.
Additionally, NATAS disclosed that summer travel packages for this year have seen a 26% increase in price compared to the same period in 2023, with demand rising by 9.4%.
Greece has emerged as the destination with the highest-priced packages due to increased accommodation and transportation costs, while Montenegro, Croatia, and Italy offer comparatively cheaper options. Accommodation costs in Greece, especially in hotels, have surged by 36.7% compared to 2023. To offset this price hike, Serbian travel agencies have reduced their margins this year.
Despite the price increase, Serbian travel agencies still offer more affordable options compared to neighboring countries. However, NATAS highlighted that this often comes at the expense of low salaries for agency employees, averaging 57,130 dinars, among the lowest in Serbia.
In terms of tourism growth, Serbia ranked fifth globally in 2023, experiencing a 15% increase compared to 2019, considered the peak year for global tourism by the World Tourism Council. Serbia welcomes approximately two million tourists annually, marking a 15% increase from 2019, with the majority being individual travelers. Belgrade remains the most popular destination.
NATAS emphasized the need to enhance domestic reception agency capacities and improve offerings for Chinese and Western European markets to further boost tourist numbers.
