Hens and Stags - Where Are They?
Hen and Stag Party, or “pissup” as some might call it, is, according to wikipedia:
“a party held for a bachelor [or bachelorette] shortly before he [or she] enters marriage, to make the most of his [or hers] final opportunity to engage in activities a new partner might not approve of, or merely to spend time bonding with his [or hers] male [or female] friends”
The term “pissup” obviously came out of the second part of the definition.
These sort of parties are also becoming interesting in terms of tourism, because party-doers recently started having these “pissups” abroad, and lately increasingly in Eastern Europe countries because of the cheep booze and other things necessary for such a party. Guys or girls choose a country, sit on a low-cost plane, get pissed, party and then head home the next day or the day after that.
So since Belgrade is pretty cheap and generally a party city, where are all those stags and hens roaming the Belgrade streets and passing out drunk on them?
There’s just one problem – there are not many cheap flights to Belgrade. Since Serbia still hasn’t ratified The Open Skies agreement, fares are still pretty high from most European cities. It is argued that the unwillingness to sign the agreement comes from the intention to protect the uncompetitive national Air operator, JAT, which would definitely had to shut down in presence of much more competitive prices from the likes of Ryan air and similar no-frills companies. With the recent unsuccessful attempt to sell JAT, it seems to me that the ratification of the agreement is near.
And that means the new branch in local tourism is about to flourish in near future – hen and stag tourism – these are visitors who stay for a short time, and usually don’t get to see any tourist sights, but spend more money than a regular tourist.
Of course, low cost flights would have much more meaning combined with the abolition of visa regime for the citizens of Serbia, which is hopefully also very near. I’m being overly optimistic maybe, but it looks to me as if some exciting times are ahead.
249 readers already did.
13 Comments, Comment or Ping
Catherine
You’re better off without them! There don’t seem to be that many of them in Zagreb either, though, even though you can get there on a cheapie flight from London Luton…..
Nov 9th, 2008
Adam - Balkan File
Yeah, I agree with Catherine. Belgrade seriously does not need to be importing British lager-louts and their female friends. It’s one of the great things about Belgrade – you don’t need to watch your back that much (if at all) on a Friday or Saturday night in the centre of town.
The money would be good, of course, but I’d rather keep Belgrade civilised at the weekends!
Nov 9th, 2008
Viktor
Is it that bad, huh? Maybe it would be exotic for us Serbs to see such behavior in the streets, who knows?
Nov 9th, 2008
jms
If you want to know if it’s bad – just ask people of Riga, Talin or Prague…
Trust me, you don’t wanna see that ‘exotic’ behaviour.
Nov 9th, 2008
Viktor
Yes, I saw that Talin, Riga and Prague are the cities mentioned most often when negative experiences are concerned. It is a strange form of tourism I must say… but it’s probably something coming our way when the low-costs are allowed to land in Belgrade, so why not be prepared and make the best of if.
Nov 9th, 2008
Adam - Balkan File
I really wouldn’t want to see such behaviour come to Belgrade. It can really be a nightmare in UK city centres at the weekend! Eurgh.
When I first came to Belgrade with my university classmates, for a 3 week course in 2004, we were amazed to see just how civilised Belgraders are when out drinking in bars and cafes. It was just SO different and NICE compared to what can happen back home.
Nov 9th, 2008
Scholar in Training
I’m torn on this one. More money into Serbia is a good thing. Drunkards (Brits) are not.
Nov 9th, 2008
Owen
You really want lots of nice British vomit all over the streets of Belgrade?
Nov 9th, 2008
Viktor
We’ve got street washers to take care of that I suppose… of course, we would prefer if they could just send us the money without ever coming over here, but that ain’t gonna happen
Nov 10th, 2008
Scholar in Training
Really this is a dilemma of globalization and the free movement of people. It faces developing economies quite often. I should blog about this on my US site and see what the response is like. http://www.acouplethings.com/
Nov 10th, 2008
Cassandra
Food for thought. I took this photo this spring in Ljubljana (!). This was his stag party…
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb47/sassinserbia/?action=view¤t=358.jpg
I am not sure if I want THAT in Belgrade
Nov 10th, 2008
stuboy72
Being an Englishman and having visited Belgrade many times to visit my wifes family, i can honestly say the last thing that is needed is hundreds of drunk Englishmen and women, spoiling the place.
The reason i enjoy Belgrade so much, apart from the many great bars, cafes and restaurants, is that it is free of the commercial tourism, that has spoilt many Eastern European capitals.
I do hope however, that the Open Skies agreement is signed soon, so that we have more choice of direct flights to Belgrade, because it is expensive to fly with both JAT and BA.
Nov 19th, 2008
Viktor
Stuboy72, I can imagine what it is like, but try stopping such parties from taking place when low cost flights come. All I’m saying is that it’s better to be prepared for what may come than to be caught completely off guard. Making some money on the way sure won’t be a minus for Serbian hoteliers and club and cafe owners.
Cassandra, nice catch!
Scholar in training, it would be an interesting topic, even for a thesis of some sort. Title suggestion: “Stag parties: a threat to indigenous cultures?”
Nov 19th, 2008
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