The Republic of Cyprus participated as the honoured country, for the first time in the history of the Sajam Turizma 2026 tourism fair, in Belgrade, while on the sidelines of the event Cyprus and Serbia reached an agreement to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of tourism in the coming months, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said on Sunday.
According to a Deputy Ministry press release, Cyprus’ participation in the fair as the honoured country had been agreed between President Nikos Christodoulides and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, during the Cypriot President’s visit to Belgrade last April.
In statements, Koumis said that “the Belgrade tourism fair is a point of reference both for the Serbian public and for those operating in the field of tourism in the countries of the Balkans.”
He added that “the Republic of Cyprus had this year the highest honour of being, for the first time, the honoured country at this very special tourism fair,” noting that this “had been agreed a few months ago between the Presidents of the two countries.”
Koumis also said that, as the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, they are “satisfied with the contacts held,” stressing that “the most important thing for us now, after the successful return of all markets, is to maintain last year’s gains” and “to achieve an increase in arrivals during the winter season.”
Referring to prospects for closer cooperation with Serbia, he said that “the Serbian government showed a very strong willingness to build closer and stronger relations of cooperation also in the field of tourism,” adding that the matter was discussed with his Serbian counterpart, Minister of Tourism and Youth Husein Memic, while he also discussed “extensively the aspect of sports tourism” with Minister of Sports Zoran Gajic.
Within this framework, Koumis said, “we agreed on the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of tourism, which will be signed in Cyprus in the coming months, in the presence of the Serbian Minister of Tourism, Husein Memic.”
The fair opened on February 19, while the opening ceremony was held jointly by Serbia’s Prime Minister Djuro Macut and Koumis, in the presence of Memic and other officials, the press release said.
During his stay in Belgrade, the Deputy Minister held contacts at political and technocratic levels with Serbian officials, tourism bodies, as well as representatives of Air Serbia and tour operators, and also gave interviews to Serbian media.
He was accompanied by the Republic of Cyprus’ Ambassador to Belgrade Andreas Fotiou and Deputy Ministry officials.
According to the Deputy Ministry, the fair also featured the presentation of the new, updated look of its tourism pavilions, emphasising Cypriot tradition and nature through video wall technology and decorative elements, while the Cypriot pavilion also hosted activities promoting Cypriot gastronomy and hospitality.
It is added that, in addition to the Deputy Ministry delegation, 20 Cypriot tourism businesses and organisations participated at the Cypriot pavilion.
The Serbian market recorded a record number of arrivals in 2025, reaching 63,000, up 57% compared with the previous year, while arrivals stood at 21,000 in 2022, the press release said.
In closing, Koumis underlined that “the Serbian market, as a source of tourism, is an important market for our country,” adding that Cyprus “invests in strengthening relations of cooperation between the two countries, including in the field of tourism.”
CNA/HT/EPH/2026
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
