AGP Executive Report

EXPO 2027: Serbia and North Macedonia are exploring tourism and business partnerships ahead of Belgrade’s world expo. A Visit Serbia event in Skopje brought together more than 50 industry representatives, while North Macedonia plans a pavilion showcasing its culture, food and wine. Greek Getaways: Greece remains Serbian travellers’ top foreign destination, with 800,317 visitors from Serbia in 2025. More are venturing beyond familiar Halkidiki resorts to the Cyclades, Crete and the Ionian islands. Belgrade Breaks: A new travel feature spotlights nonstop flights to Belgrade from New York and Chicago, alongside the city’s riverside fortress, nightlife and affordable dining. Air Serbia: The carrier reported a record 1,737,977 passengers in the third quarter, a strong sign of continued demand for travel to and from Serbia. Wine Tourism: Belgrade’s Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair drew Bulgarian wineries among its international exhibitors, strengthening the capital’s role as a regional showcase for wine.

Air Serbia: The national carrier had its strongest-ever third quarter, carrying 1.74 million passengers from July to September. It also passed 3.8 million passengers in the first nine months, with September setting a monthly record. Belgrade City Breaks: The capital is drawing attention as an affordable European destination, with nonstop flights from New York and Chicago and highlights including its riverside fortress and lively dining scene. Wine Tourism: Belgrade hosted Wine Vision by Open Balkan from October 10 to 12, welcoming 12 Bulgarian wineries among exhibitors from across the region. Rail Travel: The Budapest–Belgrade line has reached its final testing stage, with trains running at up to 160 km/h ahead of an expected autumn passenger launch. Travel Advice: Serbian citizens with qualifying biometric passports can enter Denmark visa-free under existing rules.

Air Travel: Air Serbia carried a record 1.74 million passengers in the third quarter and more than 3.8 million in the first nine months of 2026. September also set a monthly record, with 536,503 passengers. Wine Tourism: Belgrade’s Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair runs through October 12, drawing producers and international buyers; Bulgarian wineries previewed their wines at the embassy ahead of the event. Belgrade Getaways: A new travel feature spotlights nonstop flights from New York and Chicago, the city’s riverside fortress and affordable dining as reasons to visit Serbia’s capital. Rail Links: The Budapest–Belgrade railway has reached its final passenger-free test, with passenger service expected this autumn—an eagerly awaited new option for regional trips.

Air Travel: Air Serbia carried a record 1.74 million passengers in the third quarter, up 6.5% year over year, and more than 536,000 in September alone. Belgrade Breaks: A travel feature highlights nonstop Air Serbia flights from New York and Chicago, plus Belgrade’s fortress, affordable dining and lack of EU Entry/Exit System biometric checks. Wine Tourism: Twelve Bulgarian winemakers presented their wines in Belgrade ahead of Wine Vision by Open Balkan, scheduled for October 10–12. Rail Links: The Budapest–Belgrade railway reached its final test at speeds of up to 160 km/h, ahead of a planned autumn passenger launch. Sports Tourism: Serbia and Albania will host the 2027 European Under-21 Championship from June 16 to July 3, offering a future draw for football fans.

Wine Tourism: Bulgarian wineries are presenting their products in Belgrade ahead of Wine Vision by Open Balkan, running October 10–12. The fair brings regional producers and international buyers together. Air Travel: Air Serbia carried a record 1.74 million passengers in the third quarter, with September its busiest month yet. Rail Links: The Budapest–Belgrade railway has completed final testing at speeds of up to 160 km/h, with passenger service expected this autumn. Travel Access: Serbian citizens with qualifying biometric passports can enter Denmark visa-free under existing rules; check passport requirements before travelling.

Air Travel: Air Serbia carried a record 1.74 million passengers in the third quarter, up 6.5% year on year. September was its strongest month yet, with 536,503 passengers, a sign of growing capacity for visitors flying to Serbia. Rail Connections: The Budapest–Belgrade line has completed passenger-free tests at speeds of up to 160 km/h, with passenger service expected this autumn. Route Changes: Ryanair plans to drop its Vienna–Niš service at the end of October as part of winter schedule cuts, with no return date confirmed.

Air Travel: Air Serbia carried a record 1.74 million passengers in the third quarter, with September traffic up 11.7% year over year and passenger numbers topping 3.8 million for the first nine months of 2026. Rail Connections: The Budapest–Belgrade line is edging closer to passenger service: domestic trains in Hungary could start in the second half of October, with international services expected in December. Route Changes: Ryanair is dropping its Vienna–Niš service from the start of the winter schedule, reducing direct flight options between Austria and Serbia. Major Events: Serbia and Albania will host the 2027 Under-21 European Championship; Ireland’s U21 team will face Finland in a playoff for a place at the tournament.

River Cruises: Scenic has opened bookings for its 2028 Europe journeys, including a new lower Danube itinerary and longer stays; Serbian stops were not specified. Travel Access: Serbia is among nine countries whose citizens can enter Denmark visa-free with a qualifying biometric passport. Flights: Ryanair plans to drop its Vienna–Niš route from the winter schedule, with no return date announced. Road and Rail: Serbia has announced plans for a Belgrade–Vršac–Timișoara highway, while final passenger-free tests are underway on the Belgrade–Budapest Soko service ahead of its launch. Cultural Tourism: Niš is among the destinations featured at Bulgaria’s International Cultural Tourism Exhibition in Veliko Tarnovo.

Air Links: Ryanair will drop 10 routes from Vienna this winter, including flights to Niš, from late October. The airline cites Austrian airport taxes and has not confirmed when most routes will return. Road Travel: Serbia’s proposed Belgrade–Vršac–Timișoara highway could improve access to southern Banat and boost tourism around Vršac, Bela Crkva and Kovin, President Aleksandar Vučić says. Rail Updates: Novi Sad’s Soko service is testing stops at Petrovaradin and a new station on Rumenački put ahead of a timetable change on October 12; passengers should check departures, as delays are possible during testing. Passport Rules: Serbian biometric passport holders are included in visa-waiver arrangements for Denmark and Italy; the Italian exemption applies only to biometric passports.

Road Links: Serbia’s proposed Belgrade–Vršac–Timișoara highway could improve access to Vršac, Bela Crkva and Kovin, with President Aleksandar Vučić saying the route would support tourism and cross-border travel. Rail Travel: Novi Sad’s Soko trains are testing new stops at Petrovaradin and the new Rumenački put station ahead of a timetable change on October 12; Budapest–Belgrade passenger service remains unlaunched as safety tests continue without passengers. Tourism Outlook: The World Bank expects Serbia’s economy to grow 3.1% in 2026, citing tourism and Belgrade’s expanding air connections as contributors. Travel Access: Serbia’s passport ranks 38th in Europe, with visa-free or simplified access to 133 destinations worldwide.

Novi Sad Rail: The Soko train is being tested with new stops at Petrovaradin and the new Rumenački put station. The timetable changes take effect October 12, and delays or other deviations are possible during testing. Belgrade–Budapest Link: Final tests are under way at speeds of up to 160 km/h, but passenger service has not yet started. Tourism Outlook: The World Bank expects Serbia’s economy to grow 3.1% this year, with tourism and Belgrade’s expanding air connections supporting growth. Travel Access: Serbia ranks 38th among European passports, with visa-free or simplified entry to 133 destinations worldwide.

Belgrade–Budapest Rail Update: Hungary says the high-speed Budapest–Belgrade line is still in “comprehensive” safety testing with no passengers yet, despite scheduled runs during night trials—another delay for travelers planning faster links between the capitals. Serbian Passport & Travel Access: Serbia’s passport ranks 38th in Europe (61st globally) with visa-free access to 95.7% of European destinations, supporting easier regional travel for tourists and diaspora visitors. Energy Connectivity in the Balkans: Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia agreed in Belgrade to expand the Vertical Gas Corridor and explore an oil-products route via Thessaloniki–Skopje–Niš, with pipeline work progressing into 2026–2027. Tourism Numbers (BiH): Bosnia and Herzegovina logged 256,973 tourist arrivals in August (+9% vs July), with 560,221 overnight stays (+9.7%), showing strong regional demand that also affects Serbia’s cross-border travel flows. Expo 2027 Belgrade (Veneto): Italy’s Veneto region signed up for Expo 2027 Belgrade, aiming to spotlight tourism and cultural ties—good news for visitors planning next year’s major events. Diaspora Voting Watch: Ahead of Serbia’s Oct. 25 election, critics say overseas voting rules tied to local time and missing polling stations could make voting harder for Serbs abroad—an issue that may affect travel plans around election week.

UEFA Discipline in Serbia: UEFA opened an investigation into a half-time tunnel confrontation during the Republic of Ireland vs Israel Nations League match in Backa Topola, after an Israel player was accused of spitting at Ireland backroom staff. Rail Travel Watch: Hungary is still running safety tests on the Budapest–Belgrade high-speed line, with trains reportedly operating on schedules but without passengers. Diaspora Voting Rules: Serbia’s election commission tied overseas voting hours to local time, meaning some voters may need to vote overnight (including in Chicago and parts of Australia/New Zealand), drawing sharp criticism. Belgrade–Budapest Corridor Politics: A separate report says Turkey wants to expand Iraq’s Development Road into a multi-fuel energy corridor, linking transport with oil, gas, and power lines. Expo 2027 (Veneto): The Veneto Region signed up for Expo 2027 Belgrade, aiming to showcase tourism and cultural ties with Serbia. Nature vs Hotel Plans (Novi Sad): Protesters marched against plans to cut trees in Futoški Park for a business-hotel complex, arguing the area must stay protected.

Belgrade & Serbia travel pulse: The Budapest–Belgrade railway is nearing launch after a major test hit up to 160 km/h, but passenger information systems still need fixes—good news for future rail trips, with some uncertainty for timing. Local tourism & nature: Novi Sad residents are protesting the planned auction of land in Futoški Park for a business-hotel complex, warning that trees will be cut despite promises of replanting. Diaspora logistics: Serbia’s election rules for voters abroad set standardized polling hours (7 a.m.–8 p.m. CET), which could mean voting during local nighttime in some countries. Expo 2027 Belgrade: Italy’s Veneto region has signed up for Expo 2027 Belgrade, aiming to showcase tourism and cultural ties in the Serbian capital. Serbia in sport (for visitors): Nations League matches in Serbia (including Ireland vs Israel in Backa Topola) drew major tensions, with behind-closed-doors security and match-day controversy that could affect travel plans.

Expo 2027 Belgrade (Veneto): The Veneto Region has signed an agreement to take part in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, with a dedicated exhibition space and “Regional Days” planned for June 20–22, 2027—positioning the Italian region as a tourism and cultural partner for Serbia. Travel & transport (Budapest–Belgrade rail): Hungary’s rail operator says the Budapest–Belgrade line has passed a major test at up to 160 km/h, but passenger information systems still need fixes before launch. Local tourism & environment (Novi Sad Futoški Park): A planned business-hotel complex in Futoški Park is triggering protests over tree cutting in the protected area, with an auction set for Oct. 6. Serbia diaspora & voting logistics: Serbia’s election rules for voters abroad standardize polling hours (7 a.m.–8 p.m. CET), raising concerns that some countries could mean voting at night. Air travel deal (Turkish Airlines): Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles is running a 5,000-mile award sale for travel between Istanbul and many European destinations, including Serbia, for bookings Oct. 5–9. Sports with Serbia links (Nations League): Germany’s Klopp says progress is visible despite mixed results, while Greece held Germany 0-0; Serbia’s Nations League campaign also featured a 1-1 Netherlands match and a separate Ireland–Israel game staged in Serbia.

UEFA Nations League in Serbia: Ireland’s “home” match vs Israel ended 1-1 at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, with Troy Parrott scoring from the spot before Dor Peretz equalised after the break; the night was overshadowed by clashes and fresh claims of racist abuse, including a chaotic press conference that ended early after Israeli media allegations. Football in the region: Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in Eindhoven (Koopmeiners, Zirkzee), while Greece held Germany 0-0 in Thessaloniki to keep qualification hopes alive. International travel pressure: Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez criticised FIFA’s expanded international window after injuries ahead of the Serbia trip. Belgrade security alert: A 250kg WWII bomb was destroyed in Palilula after evacuation of residents within 150 meters. Serbia spotlight beyond football: Novak Djokovic advanced at the China Open, setting up a semifinal with Medvedev. Belgrade Expo buzz: EXPO 2027 souvenirs are already on sale across the city, with prices that sparked debate over affordability.