Tourist visits: More international, fewer domestic tourists

BELGRADE – From January to May this year, Serbia saw a total of 786,333 tourist visits, down four percent from 2013, a result of the number of domestic tourist visits decreasing despite a larger number of foreigners arriving, data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia shows.

The 448,254 domestic tourists accounted for 57 percent of total visits, a 14 percent decrease against January-May last year.

The number of international visitors was 338,079, an increase of 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to a statement by the Tourism Organization of Serbia (TOS), there were 2,218,932 overnight visits from January to May this year, down 10 percent against the same period in 2013.

Domestic tourists made a total of 1,490.157 overnight visits, 16 percent down against last year and 67 percent of total overnight stays, while international tourists accounted for 728,775 overnight visits, six percent more than last year, and 33 percent of the total number of overnight stays.

Most of these visits were made by tourists from Russia, a total of 55,504 overnight stays, 32 percent up from the January-May period in 2013, followed by tourists from Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia.

International guests mostly stayed in Belgrade, accounting for 54 percent of total visits to the city, and made 16 percent of total visits to other tourist destinations.

Screenshot video Tanjug (illustration)