Under the slogan “One Ticket, Endless Worlds,” the 46th International Tourism Fair, a prestigious tourism event and a gathering of the entire Southeast European region and other parts of the world, will be held at the Belgrade Fair from February 20 to 23, 2025.
The first event in this year’s Belgrade Fair calendar will once again be accompanied by the 20th International HORECA-OPREMA Fair, dedicated to hotel and hospitality equipment.
The major tourism event was announced at a press conference, where this year’s exhibitors and program were presented, along with the participation of the partner country – Italy.
Dragan Zečević, coordinator of the 46th International Tourism Fair, stated that the fair’s slogan itself reflects what will take place in the halls of the Belgrade Fair, which provide the perfect platform for choosing new destinations, first-minute offers, discovering new cultures, and everything else the Tourism Fair has been offering for many years.
– This year, more than 400 exhibitors from the tourism sector will be present. Halls 1 and 1A are intended for international tourism, airlines, travel agencies, and country presentations, with Hall 1A also included. Hall 4 will once again showcase domestic tourism, the Tourist Organization of Serbia, the Tourist Organization of Belgrade, local tourist organizations, mountain resorts, Serbian spas, ethno villages, and more.
Zečević highlighted that the Belgrade Fair has recorded a 20% increase in the number of exhibitors, while the United Nations World Tourism Organization has announced that Serbia is among the top five countries worldwide with the highest increase in tourist traffic.
– I believe this fair is a true reflection of that, as it will showcase the largest number of participating countries to date, from all parts of the world. This year, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, and Estonia are joining for the first time, while Cyprus and North Macedonia are making their return after a years-long break.
Višnja Rakić, Acting Assistant Minister of Tourism and Youth of the Republic of Serbia, expressed her satisfaction that Italy is this year’s partner country at the Tourism Fair, and that Italians, who have extensive experience and knowledge in tourism, will have the opportunity to explore Serbia as a tourist destination.
– Serbia has a lot to offer; it is a beautiful country, and everyone in the tourism industry knows that. They also know what Serbia can provide. It is up to us to promote it, and the Ministry of Tourism and Youth is working on that. Last year, we made significant progress in rural tourism, and we are continuing in that direction. In addition to the traditional presence of travel agencies, tour operators, and companies, the fair will also feature representatives of rural tourism households,” Rakić stated.
Rakić revealed that, based on the impressions and feedback from tourists visiting Serbia, it is clear that gastronomy is a major asset, and just as we love Italian cuisine, they also love our traditional food.
His Excellency Luka Gori, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, this year’s partner country at the Tourism Fair, expressed his great pleasure that his country is the partner of this year’s fair, emphasizing that the project had been in development for a long time but has now come to realization.
He noted that there is significant mutual interest between Italy and Serbia, so supporting tourist exchange is not a difficult task, and mutual interest has always existed, contributing to the relationship between the two countries.
Gori highlighted figures that show just how important the tourism sector is to the Italian economy:
– For the second consecutive year, Italy ranks first on the European Tourism Reputation Index, and second in terms of tourism offerings. Last year, Italy recorded 458.5 million overnight stays, while Italian airports registered 218.4 million passengers. Italy’s tourism sector generates around 50 billion euros, contributing approximately 10.8% to the country’s GDP.
The Ambassador of Italy also spoke about events that will bring a large number of tourists to Italy in the coming months. The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics are one of them, and the Tourism Fair in Belgrade will provide an opportunity to present them.
He announced that Italy will have a pavilion at the fair, with a stand dedicated to Sardinia, and added that he is pleased to announce the establishment of a direct flight between Serbia and Sardinia.
Gori also revealed that the fair will feature the program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, called “Italea” or “Tourism of Roots”, which is dedicated to Italians living abroad.
Miodrag Popović, acting director of the Belgrade Tourism Organization, stated that the organization will pay special attention this year to promoting cultural tourism, as he emphasized that this segment will be particularly important in the coming years, but is not yet fully explored.
This year at the Tourism Fair, visitors will be able to choose from a wide range of travel options that suit their interests—whether it’s family vacations, distant and exotic destinations, adventure and eco-tourism, city breaks, wellness and spa weekends in the mountains, holidays at spas, congress events, or special offers for young travelers.
Popular and favored destinations, which are continuously present at the fair, will also be showcased this year: Turkey, Greece, Montenegro, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Cameroon, Gabon, and more.
The Serbian Tourism Organization (TOS) is presenting itself at this year’s International Tourism Fair in Belgrade in Hall 4 under the slogan “SRBIJA. Doživi!” (English: “Experience! SERBIA”).
Along with the Serbian Tourism Organization, other participating exhibitors will be the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, PE “Ski Resorts of Serbia,” the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, the humanitarian organization “Sounds of the Heart,” the Traffic Safety Agency with the Traffic Police Department, and the Gallery of Naïve Art from Kovačica.
The brand of Serbian Tourism Organization will be promoted again this year during the fair, with the goal of connecting with people who are seeking new experiences and memories. The stand will be enriched with a variety of programs, with a focus on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
The B2B business program will also take place this year at the Tourism Fair. A B2B portal will be available to all participants, travel agencies from abroad and local agencies, for registration as both exhibitors and business visitors representing legal active entities.
As the most visited tourism fair in the region, through intensive B2B activities and the presence of numerous professionals from the industry, the fair serves as a strategic base for a market that encompasses tens of millions of potential tourists.
Under the slogan “Help yourself,” the 20th International Hotel and Catering Equipment Fair, HORECA-EQUIPMENT, will be held in Halls 2A and 2C simultaneously with the Tourism Fair.
This year’s fair focuses on domestic exhibitors, with the presence of relevant foreign representatives from companies in various segments of the hospitality industry that contribute to elevating the tourism offering to a higher level—ranging from the production, distribution, and sale of hotel and restaurant furniture to equipment for kitchens, restaurants, and bars.
Through the new “Belgrade Fair” app, exhibitors and visitors of the Tourism Fair can connect easily.
Working hours of the Tourism Fair and HORECA-EQUIPMENT Fair:
THU – SAT, 20 – 22 February: 10:00 – 19:00
SUN, 23 February: 10:00 – 18:00
Tickets:
Individual ticket: 700 RSD
Group ticket (minimum eight people): 500 RSD
Business ticket with benefits package: 3500 RSD
Car parking: 200 RSD per hour
