Inland waterway transport is one of the oldest modes of transport known to man and is an environmentally and economically suitable mode of transport. As such, inland waterway transport is a significant factor in economic development. In countries where there is a possibility of developing river transport, it can represent an important element in a multimodal type of transport, where the large capacity of river transport can be integrated with other modes of transport. Its advantages include high cargo capacity, low energy consumption, and reduced environmental impact compared to road or air transport. The aim of this study study is to evaluate the potential of inland waterway navigation in Serbia and assess the effects of the Water Transport Strategy on transport efficiency, environmental sustainability, and regional economic growth. By exploiting the natural corridor, we achieve more economical maintenance and creation of the transport route, a more environmentally friendly mode of transport, an increase in the economic value of coastal industrial zones, warehouses and logistics centers, the development of tourism and a safer mode of transport. The Water Transport Strategy defines areas whose development achieves strategic goals, and thus improves water transport. The study is directed towards the analysis and success of clearly defined goals, as well as steps towards the development of a new Water Transport Development Strategy. Data were collected from the Statistical Yearbooks of the Republic of Serbia for the years 2005–2024, including indicators such as annual passenger volumes, freight tonnage, port activity, and the economic performance of coastal industrial zones and logistics centers. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22. Normality of the data was tested with the Shapiro–Wilk test, as the sample included fewer than 50 units per year. The Mann–Whitney test for non-parametric data was applied to assess the impact of the Water Transport Strategy on key transport and economic indicators. Trends over the twenty-year period were identified, highlighting periods of growth, stagnation, or decline in passenger and freight transport. The results indicate that implementation of the Water Transport Strategy improves the efficiency and environmental sustainability of inland waterway transport, enhances the economic value of port-adjacent industrial zones, supports tourism development, and increases safety in navigation. These findings demonstrate that strategic planning and investment in inland waterways can significantly contribute to sustainable economic growth in Serbia. The study provides practical recommendations for policymakers and transport authorities to optimize multimodal integration and fully exploit the economic and environmental benefits of river transport.
Kresojević et al. (2026) studied this question.