One of the most popular trade fair events in the country and the region has finished at the Belgrade Fair – the 47th International Tourism Fair and the 21st International HoReCa Equipment Fair – Horeca-Equipment.
Under the fair domes, and under the slogan “One Journey, A Thousand Stories,” more than 350 exhibitors from 18 countries gathered, presenting a rich offer of destinations and travel arrangements, including first minute offers – cost-effective packages specially created for the fair, covering various types of travel and holidays. During the four days, visitors and participants celebrated tourism and the upcoming tourist season in an atmosphere of good spirits and intense business activity.
This year’s Tourism Fair was visited by more than 30,000 visitors, and it was marked by outstanding business dynamics with more than 2,000 B2B meetings held.
Through intensive meetings organized in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the fair once again confirmed its role as a strategic platform for a market encompassing tens of millions of potential tourists.
Years of practice have shown that through the B2B platform, carefully selected travel agencies from the country and abroad establish direct contacts with exhibitors already in the pre-fair period, schedule meetings, and during the fair conclude purchases of group travel arrangements, thereby further confirming the importance of this event for networking and the development of tourism at the international level.
The Republic of Cyprus was the Partner Country of this year’s fair, presenting the richness of its tourism capacities and unique attractions that rank it among the most attractive Mediterranean destinations. Cyprus’s participation contributed to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the countries and to the exchange of experience in the field of tourism.
Among the countries traditionally participating were Greece (with a special focus on Lefkada), Montenegro, Tunisia, Egypt, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary and North Macedonia.
For lovers of long distance travel, exotic destinations such as Namibia, Cambodia, Indonesia and Cuba were also presented, along with a number of other countries offering authentic and unforgettable experiences.
A novelty of this year’s fair was the online ticket purchase, which significantly simplified the procedure for visitors and enabled faster entry into the fair halls.
Travel agencies, associations and organizations, hotels, tourism centers, transport companies and international tour operators used this unique opportunity to promote their services, destinations and innovations in their operations. Once again this year, from a rich and diverse offer, visitors were able to choose trips that matched their interests: family holidays, long-distance and exotic destinations, adventure and eco-tourism, city break trips, wellness and spa weekends in the mountains, spa resort holidays, congress events, as well as special travel offers for young people.
From the very first day of the fair, the promotion of the EXPO 2027 Specialized Exhibition was in focus and represented the central theme of this year’s presentation by the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia (TOS). In Hall 4 of the Belgrade Fair, with the participation of several partner institutions, TOS promoted the EXPO 2027 Specialized Exhibition through an interactive programme, with particular emphasis on the importance of this international event for the development of tourism, economy and international visibility of Serbia.
In addition to the cities of Serbia, special attention this year was also given to rural tourism, ethnic households and nature getaways, offering a calmer and more authentic type of holiday that is increasingly in demand. This growing interest was also evident during the fair, where NTOS presented the new publications “Cities of Serbia” and “A Village Where Peace and Tradition Have an Address”.
The presentation of Vojvodina at this year’s Tourism Fair encompassed three segments: the pavilions of the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism and the Tourist Organisation of Vojvodina, as well as the “Wine Street”, which this year also included producers of rakija and other spirits from the territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.
Activities at trade fairs yield measurable results, and the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism has for several years been one of the most significant and largest participants at the International Tourism Fair. During the fair, Belgrade Fair awarded the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina a diploma for a successful collective presentation and for the continuous improvement of its trade fair presentation.
A notable appearance was also made by Air Serbia, which offered special fair discounts and travel conditions, and during the fair one airline ticket was sold every minute.
The 21st International HoReCa Equipment Fair – Horeca-Equipment was also held at the same time, further strengthening communication between the tourism and hospitality sectors. With the participation of domestic exhibitors and companies from Italy (ITA/ICE Agency), Albania and other countries, modern solutions and innovations were presented in the field of hotel and hospitality services, ranging from the production, distribution and sale of hotel and catering furniture to equipment for kitchens, restaurants and bars.
During the four days of the fair, Belgrade became the tourism hub of the region and a city of cosmopolitan spirit. Around 700 journalists from more than 20 countries were accredited (Italy, the United States, Austria, Germany, Turkey, China, Slovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary…), confirming the strong international interest in this event.
The 47th International Tourism Fair once again confirmed its position as the central meeting point for tourism professionals, innovators and travel lovers.
The success of the fair is measured not only by the number of visitors and exhibitors, but also by the quality of business contacts and partnerships established, which will help shape the tourism year ahead.
