Serbia has advised its citizens to travel to Croatia only in cases of “urgent necessity,” placing the European Union member state under an “orange” alert in its travel advisory system, prompting a sharp response from Croatian officials who dismissed the warning as unjustified.
Serbia’s Foreign Ministry recently published a global travel advisory “traffic light” system on its website, classifying countries according to perceived security risks for Serbian citizens. Croatia was marked with an orange warning, indicating that travel is recommended only when necessary.
Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said the recommendation was not rational, noting that the country is a member of the European Union, NATO and the Schengen area and ranks among the safest countries in Europe according to Eurostat.
“The greatest ‘tension’ for Serbian visitors here will be choosing between the Adriatic coast and the wine routes,” the ministry said in a statement, in an apparent attempt to downplay the advisory.
Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović also questioned the relevance of the Serbian warning, pointing to the continued influx of Serbian visitors and workers.
“The real question is whether Serbian citizens even listen to their ministry, considering the number of them who come to Croatia,” Božinović said on Thursday.
Croatian media reported that around 25,000 Serbian citizens are employed in Croatia, while Serbian tourists remain among the frequent visitors to the country.
The Serbian travel advisory is part of a broader update that categorizes dozens of countries worldwide using a color-coded system ranging from green (safe) to red (areas where travel is strongly discouraged).
The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions globally, including escalating conflicts in the Middle East, which have prompted several countries to update travel guidance for their citizens.