Senicic: Around 70 percent of Serbian citizens spend their summer holidays through travel agencies

The Director of the National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia (JUTA), Aleksandar Senicic, assessed that citizens still place the greatest trust in travel agencies, stating that around 70 percent of travelers use their services, while around 30 percent choose to organize their trips independently.

Senicic points out that the decision whether to organize a trip independently or through an agency depends on the budget, but also on one’s ability to navigate the internet.

“A large number of people still give priority to travel agencies because they purchase package arrangements that provide them with greater security. In addition, the law provides certain protections for travelers, so in the event of unforeseen circumstances, they can exercise the right to a refund or other appropriate compensation,” Senicic told Kosovo Online.

According to him, the percentage of citizens traveling through travel agencies is gradually declining, but it remains dominant.

“That percentage decreases year by year, but according to our latest data, around 70 percent of travelers use the services of travel agencies, while around 30 percent travel independently,” he said.

As he adds, traveling through travel agencies is often financially more favorable than independently booking accommodation.

“If we look at booking platforms such as Booking and similar services, they are currently more expensive in many cases than offers provided by travel agencies. This year, we analyzed accommodation prices in Greece and Montenegro, comparing the same properties during the same periods, and found that arrangements through travel agencies can be 15 to 20 percent cheaper than prices on Booking.com,” Senicic said.

He believes that travel agencies are a particularly good option for air travel and more distant destinations.

“Of course, I will always recommend traveling through travel agencies, but when it comes to airline packages, the advantage is especially pronounced. During the summer, when it comes to charter flights and organized arrangements for more distant destinations, such as North African countries or Greek, Spanish and Italian islands, individual travelers can hardly find more favorable prices than those offered by agencies,” he said.

Senicic also points out that passengers who book through travel agencies have greater flexibility in case they cancel their trip.

“With individual reservations, you often have to pay for accommodation in advance without the possibility of cancellation. With travel agencies, you can also purchase travel cancellation insurance, so the insurance company assumes part of the risk if you are unable to travel for justified reasons. The situation is significantly different with individual trips,” he explained.

He advises citizens who want to organize their own trips to do so primarily in countries in the region.

“We recommend that individual trips be organized in neighboring countries, such as Croatia, Montenegro or North Macedonia, where there are no language barriers and there is less possibility of unpleasant surprises. It is also very important that reservations are not made through social networks, but directly with known properties or based on recommendations from people you trust,” he said.

Senicic warned that this year as well, a large number of accommodation booking scams through social networks have been recorded.

“More than 1,000 such scams have been reported this year. As the number of individual travelers grows, so does the number of scams,” he said.

Speaking about favorite destinations, Senicic pointed out that Greece, as in the previous ten years or so, is the most popular choice among Serbian citizens this summer as well.

“We expect around one million tourists from Serbia to visit Greece this year,” Senicic said.

Regarding adventure tourism, he says it still accounts for a small share of the domestic tourism market.

“There are programs that include rafting, trekking and other adrenaline activities, but a relatively small number of people choose them. Such trips are mostly organized by mountaineering clubs and associations that bring together enthusiasts of extreme sports and organize visits to destinations suitable for these activities,” Senicic concluded.