Forex revenue from tourism to be around USD 1.1 bln

BELGRADE - Serbia's foreign exchange revenue from tourism will amount to around USD 1.1 billion this year, Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic announced on Monday.

At the promotion of the winter tourism season, held at the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia (TOS), Ljajic said that the foreign exchange revenue from tourism amounted to around USD 850 million in the first nine months of this year - 11 percent more than in the same period last year.

The total number of tourists amounts to 1,669,168 this year, Ljajic said, adding that the number of Serbian tourists dropped by 9.8 percent, while the number of foreign tourists rose by 12.4 percent.

Belgrade remains the most popular destination among foreign tourists, followed closely behind by Novi Sad, mountain resorts on Mt. Zlatibor, Mt. Kopaonik, Mt. Tara, Mt. Stara Planina and spa centres - Vrnjacka Banja, Gornja Trepca, Bukovicka Banja and Banja Kanjiza, Ljajic said.

Spas, mountain resorts, Belgrade and Novi Sad are the most popular among Serbian tourists, the minister noted.

The steady increase in the number of foreign tourists is greatly due to the liberalised visa regime after Serbia made the decision to liberalise the visa regime for all those with Schengen, US or UK visas, Ljajic said.

This year's winter tourism season is expected to be a success, he said, adding that around 90 percent of accommodation on Mt. Kopaonik has already been sold.

Early bookings for Mt. Stara Planina have increased, with 95 percent of accommodation on Mt. Zlatibor expected to sell this year.

In collaboration with HORES, the TOS invested substantial funds in promoting tourism in the country this year, TOS...