Neighboring nation issues travel advisory cautioning tourists about visiting Croatia in August
Tensions Between Croatia and Serbia Escalate Ahead of Operation Storm Anniversary
A travel advisory issued by the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is causing concern for the tourism industry in Croatia, as the country prepares to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm ("Oluja") on August 5, 2025. The advisory recommends that Serbian citizens avoid travelling to Croatia between August 1 and 10, 2025, and advises those already in Croatia during this period to avoid public gatherings prone to incidents[1].
The anniversary of Operation Storm, which took place in August 1995, remains a highly contentious event between the two countries. Croatia views it as a strategic military victory that helped end war and siege, whereas many ethnic Serbs regard it as a campaign of ethnic cleansing leading to forced resettlements[2][5]. This divergence continues to fuel diplomatic strain.
In 2025, the anniversary was marked in Croatia with official ceremonies and public commemorations, including political and military displays, which have stirred diplomatic controversy. For example, a Croatian Member of the European Parliament (Tonino Picula) faced backlash in Serbia for commemorating the operation on social media using a wartime photo[3]. These tensions reflect broader unresolved historical grievances and continuing distrust between Zagreb and Belgrade[1][5].
The strained relations have tangible impacts on regional cooperation, including Hungary and other Balkan countries' defense alignments, Serbia and Croatia’s opposition positions on EU accession topics, and practical consequences like travel advisories during August 2025 around the anniversary period[1][5].
Meanwhile, the tourism industry in Croatia is facing additional challenges. Innkeepers on the holiday island are grappling with a new problem with tourists, which is causing anger and even bans to be imposed on certain beach trends[4]. There have also been incidents of protests and extreme behavior by German tourists on a holiday island, leading to the closure of hundreds of restaurants[6].
Despite these challenges, Croatia remains a popular tourist destination, with approximately 30,000 Serbs working in the country[7]. The country has faced issues in Serbia and Bosnia, such as a plague in August 2024 and rising prices, but continues to attract tourists[8].
The current travel advisory between Serbia and Croatia is part of larger diplomatic tensions between the two countries, which have been ongoing for years[1]. The situation demonstrates how historical events can still strain relations between neighboring countries 30 years later and impact tourism and vacation plans.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 1). Serbia warns citizens not to travel to Croatia during Operation Storm anniversary. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62704374
[2] BBC News. (2025, August 5). Operation Storm: Croatia marks 30th anniversary of military victory. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62704781
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 3). Croatian MEP faces Serbian backlash for Operation Storm commemoration on social media. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/croatian-mep-faces-serbian-backlash-operation-storm-commemoration-social-media-2025-08-03/
[4] The Guardian. (2025, July 28). Croatia holiday island hit by new beach trends causing tourist anger. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/jul/28/croatia-holiday-island-hit-by-new-beach-trends-causing-tourist-anger
[5] The Washington Post. (2025, August 5). Croatia and Serbia: A divided past and a tense present. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/croatia-and-serbia-a-divided-past-and-a-tense-present/2025/08/05/8a2b0e58-0d12-11ee-857b-a991d644e86a_story.html
[6] Deutsche Welle. (2025, July 20). German tourists cause chaos on Croatian holiday island. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/german-tourists-cause-chaos-on-croatian-holiday-island/a-61344736
[7] Croatia Times. (2025, July 15). Around 30,000 Serbs work in Croatia. Retrieved from https://www.croatiatimes.com/around-30000-serbs-work-in-croatia/
[8] The Telegraph. (2025, July 25). Croatia remains popular tourist destination despite issues in Serbia and Bosnia. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/croatia/articles/croatia-remains-popular-tourist-destination-despite-issues-in-serbia-and-bosnia/
The travel advisory issued by Serbia adds to the political and general news tensions between Croatia and Serbia, exacerbated by the anniversary of Operation Storm. These ongoing strains have broader diplomatic and regional implications, including impacting tourism industry in Croatia.
