Serbian exhibitors believe the government’s recent move this year to remove visa requirements for Chinese tourists will help grow arrivals from China.
Vladimir Koricanac, planning and coordination manager at Serbia Tour Operator in Belgrade, said: “Visa requirements for the Chinese were a deterrent in the past as getting a tourist visa used to take 20 days or more and the documents had to be submitted to Serbia for processing.
Sava river running through Belgrade
“Chinese travellers also had to submit personal documents including their bank and employment documents, and it cost around 50 euros (US$54.40).
“With the removal of visa requirements, we expect to see a boom in the Chinese FIT market.”
Koricanac is also encouraged by a tip-off from “a reliable tourism official that a Chinese airline will start flying from Beijing to Belgrade four times weekly from this summer”.
While details are lacking at press time, this is expected to be a timely development as there are currently no direct connections between Chinese cities to Serbia and visitors have to make a one-stop transit before getting to Belgrade.
Darko Kuzeljevic, project manager at Serbia Tour Operator, added: “We think the 10- to 15-night Balkan Tours combining Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro, will appeal to the FIT segment from China as the scenery is very pretty. After we develop the leisure segment, we will go after the Chinese MICE business.”
China is the first North Asian market that Serbia Tour Operator is targeting, by building contacts with Chinese outbound operators and wholesalers at ITB China.
Another Serbian tour operator, Gregor Levic, owner and general manager of iDMC Travel based in Belgrade, is also eyeing the Chinese FIT segment, which is new for the company. However, the company is ready to receive Chinese visitors as it has Mandarin-speaking guides, translators and a sales staff.
Levic said: “We want to target Chinese travellers who have already been to Central Europe and are now looking for a new destination. We have much to offer in terms of unspoilt nature, architecture and historical sites.
“Accommodation is cheaper than in Western Europe. A five-star accommodation in Belgrade can cost between 100 to 300 euros a night, which is cheaper than in Western Europe.
“Serbia can also be combined with Austria and Hungary, or Slovenia and Croatia, or with Montenegro and Macedonia.”
