In 2015, according to the iconic travel guide brand Lonely Planet, Serbia was ranked among the top ten countries to visit in the "Best in Travel 2015" category. Serbia has been described as "a land of hospitality, great food and irrepressible fun." In the same year, she was appointed director of the National Tourism Organization of Serbia Maria Labovich, replacing Gordana Plamenac, who has held this position since 2007. We are talking with the new director about a tourist destination that is gaining popularity among Russian tourists.
- What is Serbia focusing on in promoting its tourism opportunities on the Russian market?
- First of all, I would like to note the importance of Serbia's participation in the last MITT 2016 exhibition, within the framework of which we had a unique opportunity to demonstrate our tourist attractiveness to the Russian market. Serbia is a country with unique natural beauty, no less beautiful cities and spa resorts (Bani). We noted the very high interest of Russian tourists in Serbia within the framework of the exhibition and provided the most diverse program of our tourist opportunities.
- And is there any positive statistics on the tourist flow from Russia?
- For Serbia, Russia is one of the most important tourism markets. Every year the number of Russian tourists in Serbia is increasing, over the past 2015 Russia took 3rd place among all tourists in terms of the number of overnight stays in Serbia. In general, at the end of January 2016, the increase in tourists from Russia amounted to 12%. And we hope that this trend will continue in the coming years.
- Are there any special tourist programs for outdoor activities and youth?
- In Serbia, absolutely any tourist can find an opportunity to relax. For nature lovers there are hiking trips in the mountains or along the rivers, all kinds of rafting. For lovers of nightlife, numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs are always open. And in winter, we invite you to visit our ski resort Kopaonik, where new slopes and lifts are now open.
Serbia also hosts many international festivals and one of the most popular on the continent - the music festival "Exit" in Novi Sad, which attracts spectators and participants from all over Europe. Tourists can come to Belgrade, then book an excursion to Novi Sad, it is located very close, and visit this wonderful musical festival.
- Can we talk about Serbia as a year-round destination?
- Undoubtedly. It all depends on the preferences of tourists. As I said, in winter it is a wonderful ski resort, in summer it is ecotourism on lakes and rivers, as well as hiking and climbing.
Our health resorts are open all year round: Zlatibor, Prolom Banya and many others, which we recommend visiting not only for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, but also for the opportunity to see the enchanting beauty of nature. A varied cultural program will not let you get bored either by adults or children.
And do not forget about Belgrade, which can be considered as a great option for a city break for the weekend, as well as a separate item in the tourist program when traveling around the country. In any case, Belgrade will gladly welcome tourists and provide an eventful holiday regardless of the season.
What, in your opinion, are the main advantages of Serbia as a tourist destination for Russians?
- In fact, there are a lot of them. It seems to me that it is worth starting with the fact that our peoples have a lot in common. And it's not just common cultural traditions, Orthodoxy - Russians are really welcome in Serbia. And these are not empty words. Serbia and Russia have always been allies on many issues. And we are trying to do everything to provide the Russians with the most comfortable rest.
First of all, it is, of course, a visa-free regime. Direct flights to Belgrade are offered daily by Aeroflot and Air Serbia. In addition, for a trip, Russians do not have to change rubles for euros or dollars - in Serbia, you can change Russian currency for Serbian dinars everywhere. There are many hotels and hostels for every taste and budget, and in the Kopaonik and Zlatibor districts there are all-inclusive hotels that are loved by Russians. And, of course, delicious Serbian cuisine, a very mild, pleasant climate, enchanting nature and many attractions.
You describe Serbia as an ideal destination for individual tourism
- And indeed it is! To make it easy for tourists to compose their travel program, a mobile travel guide to Serbia “2Travel. Your Guide to Serbia”completely in Russian, free download available on Google Play and App Store. Everything you want to know about Serbia: resorts, hotels, attractions, routes - all information is available on the smartphone screen, including in roaming, in the absence of the Internet. Another guide will be released in the near future.
