35th International Tourism Fair in Belgrade kicks off

The 35th International Tourism Fair, which will bring together 1,000 exhibitors from 46 countries, opened in Belgrade on Thursday, and will last by February 24. 

Serbia's State Secretary for Tourism Goran Petkovic underlined that it is the organizer's duty to send a message that Serbia is a country of cooperation, which is active in international organization in cooperation with the countries of the region, Europe and all friends around the globe. Petkovic stated that this leading regional tourism fair is an ideal place for businessmen to meet with important people in the tourism and hospitality industry in this part of the world.

Serbia's Minister of Culture and Information Bratislav Petkovic underlined that monuments of culture across Serbia are a great tourist potential that makes us know to the world as a people of rich culture. He noted that in the territory of Serbia, the cultural heritage ranges from the very rise of the civilization that is Vinca and Lepenski Vir, the Roman civilization and the Serbian-Byzantine medieval heritage, to monumental contemporary fortresses. Petkovic said that this year will mark 17 centuries of the Edict of Milan, which is an exceptional opportunity for Serbia to show the rich Roman heritage that it owns.

The partner of this year's tourism fair is Germany, which presented its tourist attractions at the Belgrade Fair for the first time last year. The 9th Food Service Industry Fair HORECA, the 8th Souvenir Fair “Visit Serbia” and the 4th International Wine Fair BEOWINE will be held as part of the Tourism Fair.

The opening of the fair was attended by Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic and Princess Katherine, German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm, State Secretary in the Interior Ministry Vladimir Bozovic, and tourism ministers of Greece and Iraq.