Travel warning for Croatia: Serbia urges caution in August!

Travel warning for Croatia: Serbia urges caution in August!

In August 2025, relations between Croatia and Serbia became tense again, leading to travel warnings on both sides. The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that its citizens not travel to Croatia between August 1st and 10th, 2025. This advice coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Croatian military Operation Storm, which took place on August 5, 1995. Croatia celebrates this day as “Victory Day and Homeland Gratitude,” which further inflames emotions in the region.

The Serbian Foreign Ministry does not give any specific reasons for the travel warning, but advises people to avoid public gatherings and gatherings in particular. This shows the sensitivity of the issue that is straining Serbian-Croatian relations. Estimates of the number of Serbs displaced during Operation Storm vary widely: Croatian sources put the number at around 130,000 displaced, while Serbian sources put the number at up to 300,000. This historical burden contributes to increased tension in the region.

Travel warnings on both sides

At the same time, Croatia has warned its citizens against non-essential travel to Serbia. This warning was triggered by the expulsion of five Croatian citizens from Serbia, which was carried out “for security reasons”, but without further explanation. Croatia's Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman announced that he would send a letter of protest to Serbia and also plans to inform the EU delegation in Belgrade about the "humiliating" measures taken by the Serbian authorities.

In the diplomatic row, Serbia's Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as "inappropriate" and stressed that the Croatians concerned were treated in accordance with local legal procedures. These incidents show how tense bilateral relations between Croatia and Serbia continue to be, having been strained since the Croatian war in the 1990s.

Tourism and work situation

Despite the strained relations, Croatia is considered one of the safest countries in the European Union according to Eurostat and remains a popular tourist destination. Around 30,000 Serbian citizens actively live and work in Croatia, many of them with work permits. This number is made up of seasonal and year-round workers, with a high proportion of seasonal workers in summer. However, the question remains how political tensions will affect travel and economic relations in the coming months.

Both countries recommend that travelers monitor the situation closely and refrain from traveling if necessary. While Croatia has already advised against non-essential travel to Serbia, Serbia's current travel warning represents a new dimension in the diplomatic dispute. Experts advise dealing with current developments particularly sensitively.

For more information about developments in the region, read coverage from Mercury and n-tv.