Growth in Tourist Traffic in the First Three Quarters
The tourism economy of Novi Sad achieved exceptional results in the first three quarters of 2026, recording growth across almost all sectors of tourist traffic. According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, in the period from January to September 2026, Novi Sad was visited by a total of 171,725 tourists, representing an increase of 12.3% compared to the same period of the previous year. Of these, domestic tourists numbered 58,361, or 14.8% more, while foreign guests generated 113,364 arrivals, marking an 11.1% increase. At the same time, 429,055 overnight stays were recorded, which is 6.9% more compared to the first nine months of 2025. Domestic guests generated 111,150 overnight stays with an increase of 17.1%, and foreign guests generated 317,905 overnight stays with an increase of 3.8%.
September Breaks All Previous Records
A historic result was recorded during September 2026, which saw as many as 60,694 overnight stays, representing a growth of 45.9% compared to September 2025. This is also the highest number of overnight stays recorded in the month of September since tourist traffic in Novi Sad has been officially measured. During this period, Novi Sad was visited by guests from 172 countries worldwide, with the highest number of arrivals generated by tourists from the Russian Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, and Montenegro, while the highest number of overnight stays was generated by guests from the Russian Federation, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, and Croatia.
International Interest at the Tourist Information Centre
The positive trend is also confirmed by the data that 8,415 tourists from 70 countries passed through the Tourist Information Centre of the Tourism Organisation of the City of Novi Sad, among whom the most numerous were guests from Russia, Germany, Spain, the USA, and Great Britain.
When it comes to river tourism, according to data from the Ports Agency, 243 passenger vessels docked at the passenger terminal in Novi Sad, disembarking 34,440 passengers. Although a drop in the number of dockings and disembarked passengers was recorded compared to the same period last year due to unfavourable water levels of the Danube during the summer months and limited navigation conditions, this challenge did not diminish the overall record tourist figures that the city is recording this year.
