The country is receiving an increasing number of visitors not only from neighboring countries but also from more distant ones.
A European country without access to the sea has unexpectedly become one of the year’s tourist discoveries. It has entered the top ten fastest‑growing tourist destinations in the world, and local authorities are expecting a record season thanks to the steady growth in the number of both foreign and domestic tourists. This is reported by Startlap.
We are talking about Serbia, which is increasingly consolidating its position in the international tourism market. As the publication notes, the country is receiving more and more visitors not only from neighboring countries but also from more distant states, and its domestic tourism is also growing steadily.
According to the latest data, Serbia is among the fastest‑growing tourist destinations in the world. In the first five months of this year, the number of tourists increased by almost 7 % compared to the same period last year. According to Serbia’s Minister of Tourism and Youth, Husein Memić, the positive trend is likely to continue for the rest of the year.
“In the first five months, we recorded an increase in the number of both domestic and foreign tourists, ranging from 6.8% to 6.9%,” he said.
According to journalists, the largest number of foreign tourists are currently arriving in the country from Turkey and Russia. At the same time, the number of visitors from North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia is noticeably increasing. However, interest from China has somewhat declined.
According to experts, the growing popularity of Serbia is due to the favorable price‑to‑quality ratio, the rich cultural offer, and the development of tourism infrastructure.
Rural tourism is one of the main drivers.
The article states that rural tourism has been developing particularly rapidly in recent years. If just a few years ago there were only about 700 registered estates operating in the country to accommodate tourists, today their number has almost tripled.
“Three years ago, we had about 700 registered rural tourist farms, and now it is already about 1,900. Our goal is to promote Serbian villages and extend the tourist season, ” Memic said.
The Serbian government plans to continue paying special attention to the development of rural regions so that small towns and traditional villages can play an increasingly important role in the tourism industry.
Regions that can become season leaders
Tourism industry leaders consider Golubac and the region along the Danube, which attract tourists with their historical attractions and natural beauty, to be one of the most promising destinations this season.
Furthermore, thanks to large‑scale infrastructure projects, Peshtër and New Pazar are attracting increasing attention. It is expected that infrastructure development and the emergence of new tourist services will make these regions even more attractive in the coming years.
What is behind the rise in popularity
The publication emphasized that one of the main reasons for Serbia’s tourism success is that, for many European travelers, the country still offers a better price‑to‑quality ratio than many cities in Western Europe or popular resorts.
As noted, the prices for accommodation, restaurants, and local services remain particularly attractive for those who want to get vivid impressions without spending money on expensive European trips. That is why Serbia regularly appears on the lists of budget‑friendly travel destinations compiled by authoritative travel magazines.
Belgrade also plays an important role in the growing interest in Serbia, having become one of the most popular urban tourist destinations in the region in recent years. The Serbian capital combines historical attractions, a vibrant nightlife, cultural events, and an increasingly interesting gastronomic scene.
Belgrade’s restaurants are also attracting increasing international attention. This is also confirmed by the fact that several establishments in the Serbian capital have already been included in the Michelin Guide 2026, the article notes.
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