The most attractive tourist destinations are those that have preserved natural and geographical environment, protected nature and anthropogenic tourist motives attracting domestic and foreign tourists. Very often rural and mountainous areas in Serbia have been neglected, without developmental perspectives. Sustainable tourism development in these areas represents conditionality for the use of tourism areas, so that they are not destroyed in such a way that future generations cannot use them. Destinations that have the capability to offer such tourism resources are able to be competitors in the tourism market. The significance of tourism development for rural and mountainous parts of Serbia is extremely high given that world tourism trends are oriented towards such destinations. It is about poorly developed areas. This chapter aims at understanding the potential of mountains and rural parts of Eastern Serbia and their inclusion into the tourism offer, using the long-term concept of sustainable development of this part of Serbia.
The Special Nature Reserve "Zasavica" is a significant wetland and Ramsar site of the southwestern part of Vojvodina Province (Northern Serbia). This complex of aquatic habitats has been formed by the effects of the Sava and the Drina rivers. This former riverbed of the Sava River and the today's Zasavica stream makes the basic hydrographic resource of this protected area. The reserve is inhabited by numerous rare and endangered plant and animal species, which unitedly make rare biodiversity, unique in the country and the region. Whether the area of the Special Nature Reserve "Zasavica" represents a significant potential for the development of tourism will be concluded in this paper by using two scientific methods. The obtained results from a conducted questionnaire, as the first method, will be used to analyze the interplay of factors and their interrelations as potentials for sustainable tourism development, outlined in the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy of Serbia. The obtained results can examine the main hypothesis that the SNR is a significant tourist potential for ecotourism both at the level of the Republic of Serbia and at the level of the countries in the region, such as Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other European countries. By enhancing sustainable tourism and protecting the space of this reserve, and by implementing the national tourist offer, higher socio-cultural, economic and ecological benefits can be achieved.
Central European Journal of Geography and Sustainable Development (CEJGSD) is an open access peer-reviewed journal which means that all its content is freely available, without charge, to the user or to his/her belonging institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or access the link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.
Central European Journal of Geography and Sustainable Development (CEJGSD) is an open access peer-reviewed journal which means that all its content is freely available, without charge, to the user or to his/her belonging institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or access the link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.
This research paper introduces results of research through analyses of a significant number of activities, aimed at preventing the negative impact of tourism in the area of its operating, observed through a selected number of exemplified managing system protections, in particular world's natural sites, including the Republic of Serbia. Important models of protection are presented through numerous case studies, among which, especially observed, and noted in this research paper are: establishing site protection status on an international and local level, zoning of tourism and site carrying capacity. Taken into consideration, these models can give positive results by contributing the planning strategies of other countries or regions, including the Republic of Serbia. With regular monitoring, they are to bring constitution to novel or implement the existing measures of protection, aimed at promoting positive ecological and social long-term outcomes.
The Palić Nature Park has significant potential in terms of the resource base of sustainable tourism. This resource base forms natural and social motives, which with proper tourism development can contribute to overall sustainability. The subject of research in this work is the resource base that can contribute to the development of sustainable tourism in this protected area. As tourism factors can be of a complementary type, a condition is created for the formation of a unique tourism product. By properly implementing these factors into the tourism offer, and by promoting this destination with its natural and social potential, protection systems can be improved, socio-cultural values can be strengthened and significant economic income can be achieved. A large part of the income can be refinanced into the protection and improvement of the natural and social values of this protected area. At the same time, this constitutes a circular system of sustainable tourism development, in which ecological, economic, socio-cultural and institutional principles of sustainability stand out as important. The qualitative methodology was used in the research. The qualitative methodology included the analysis of various research results, as well as the field examination of resources for the development of sustainable tourism. The results of the research can contribute to the development of planning documents for the development of tourism in the Palić Nature Park and other protected areas.
Central European Journal of Geography and Sustainable Development (CEJGSD) is an open access peer-reviewed journal which means that all its content is freely available, without charge, to the user or to his/her belonging institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or access the link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.
The area of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina has significant natural potentials for the development of nature-based tourism. The paper analyzes the data found in various articles as well as data obtained hands-on. Selected factors such as location, relief, climate, hydrography, flora and fauna and protected areas of Vojvodina were analyzed. The degree of presence of the mentioned factors for the development of nature-based tourism was determined with selected indicators. The medium and high level of the presence of factors indicates the possibility of developing ecotourism, scientific tourism, hunting, fishing, sports and recreation, bird watching, nautical, trips and other forms of tourism based on natural resources. Quantitative, comparative and data presentation methods were used in the research. The results of research can aid further research of nature-based tourism.
Ecosystems, water supplies, and tourism all benefit from the protection of forest regions. All the above affect the possibility for tourism to prosper in forested areas. Tikvara Nature Park (TNP) has significant tourist potential for the development of specific and sustainable forms of tourism because it has direct contact with the Danube River, which forms the Upper Danube Region. This nature park has a significant forested area, inhabited by rare species of flora and fauna. In addition, there are wetlands, which are inhabited by rare species of birds, aquatic animals, and plants. Ecological and socio-cultural sustainability are the subjects of research in this article. It was possible to observe all possibilities for the growth of tourism based on nature by analyzing sustainable tourism by applying an extended PoS study method. The results of this research indicate that the two examined dimensions have a significant impact on the state and perspective of tourism development in this nature park. Also, sustainable tourism has an impact on the satisfaction of respondents through ecological and socio-cultural factors of the destination. Analysis of the results indicates that the respondents are ready to harmonize their activities with ecological principles in this protected area. Researching these two dimensions of sustainable tourism development (STuD) is important for tourism planning, growth, and nature protection control. This study’s significant results demonstrate the importance of environmental and socio-cultural elements for tourism development (ToD), and their substantial influence on tourism sustainability (ToS) and local and visitor satisfaction. Plans for the growth of sustainable tourism might be significantly influenced by research findings.
Wetlands are natural areas with rare and fragile ecosystems. They have a multiple natural role, in terms of protection from natural influences, and to provide habitats for many species of flora and fauna. The role of wetlands in sustainable tourism development is very significant. The income from the tourism expenditures directly improves the protection of endangered plant and animal species, and the development of the local infrastructure and facilities for various forms of tourism. On the other hand, the tourist expenditures are directly or indirectly increasing the income of the local community.
No abstract is provided for this article.
The Special Nature Reserve “Kraljevac” (RK) is located in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, in southern Banat. This first-category reserve covers an area of 264.3 ha and represents a natural item of exceptional importance. The reserve is characterized by significant geological heritage such as loess sections and dune relief, a lake with famous floating peat islands that form the physiology of this wetland, and very rare representatives of flora and fauna. The RK is characterized by the rich cultural heritage of the population living in South Banat. The different ethnic composition of the population and multiculturalism are the main sociocultural tourist motives of this protected area. The Deliblato Sands, known in Europe for their rare geological features, flora and fauna, are located in the immediate vicinity. This significantly increases the value of the RK. Quantitative methodology was used in the paper, which included interviewing respondents as a research technique. The research was conceived according to the Prism of Sustainability (PoS) model. For this sustainable tourism research, a total of 750 respondents (470 residents and 280 visitors) were surveyed. A written and online questionnaire was used in the survey of respondents. By using a questionnaire, respondents expressed their views on certain statements that were grouped into two categories. The claims refer to the natural and sociocultural factors of tourism development in this protected area. Both categories of tourism destination factors can significantly influence sustainable tourism. In addition, we examined the impact of sociocultural and natural factors on respondents’ satisfaction with sustainable tourism. The research results indicate that there is a significant influence of these factors on the satisfaction of residents and visitors with sustainable tourism. The results of this research can provide important information when planning the development of tourism in this protected area. Also, the results can help in the evolution of tourism development at the local, national and regional levels. The forms of tourism that could be central in the RK are scientific research, sports–recreational, ecotourism, bird-watching, events, cultural, gastronomic, and other tourism forms. These forms of tourism can provide environmental, economic and social benefits for this protected area as a tourism destination.
The Ramsar Site Labudovo Okno (LO) is located in Vojvodina, on the left bank of the Danube. It covers an area of 3733 ha. This wet habitat is valuable for different ecosystems, among which the most important are those inhabited by rare bird species. The main natural resources are wetlands, created by the Danube in this shallow part of its flow. Thirty-seven sustainable tourism (ST) indicators were used to assess the current status and future prospects of tourist growth in the LO. For this study, a total of 625 respondents (255 tourists and 370 residents) were asked through a questionnaire to evaluate the current tourism and the impact on their satisfaction. Additionally, they showed that some resources are either misused or not used sufficiently, which has a detrimental effect on the LO. Part of the research was to determine how satisfied respondents were with ST. Although tourism in LO still has no important mass features, the respondents’ satisfaction with sustainable LO tourism is present to a significant extent. This is vital for ST and the creation of local tourism strategies, because the need for greater valorization of natural and social values, as well as the establishment of the roles of all subjects of tourism development, has been noticed. Certainly, nature-based, ecotourism, scientific research, and nautical and bird-watching tourism must be the primary forms of tourist movements in the LO.
The Special Nature Reserve “Carska Bara” (CB) contains significant water resources and wetlands whose flora and fauna should be preserved. This protected area attracts a wide range of tourists, primarily those who love the world of nature. The aim of this research was to determine whether sustainable tourism affects the satisfaction of residents, which is the main hypothesis (H1). Also, the specific aim of this research is to define the state of tourism that can be influenced by the ecological and institutional dimensions, which is the auxiliary hypothesis (H2). This research used a quantitative methodology. A total of 910 residents living in the surrounding communities were surveyed for the study. The analysis of the research results concludes that sustainable tourism has a significant impact on the satisfaction of residents, which fully confirms hypothesis H1. The research results also indicate the importance of the ecological and institutional dimensions of sustainability on the state of tourism, which fully confirms hypothesis H2. The research results obtained may be significant for the management process of this protected area and for improving the conditions for sustainable forms of tourism.
Protected areas can be important destinations for tourism development because they contribute to economic, environmental and cultural development. In the phase of planning the development of a protected area as a tourism destination, it is important to consider all the possibilities, opportunities, strengths, weaknesses and dangers of tourism implementation, which should be the basic task of management processes. The Outstanding Natural Landscapes " Vrsacke Pianine " has significant potential for tourism development. Within this area, there are numerous natural and anthropogenic motives, important for the development of tourism. Favorable geographical location, proximity to major cities in Serbia and the border with Romania, are significant potentials for tourism development in this protected area. In the research in this paper, a quantitative method was used. A total of 250 visitors to this tourism destination was interviewed using the questionnaire survey technique with the help of a questionnaire as a research instrument, the method of random selection. Visitors answered questions about the potential for tourism development of this protected area. The analysis of the respondents ' answers concludes that this area has a significant extent of natural factors that contribute to the development of nature-based tourism, such as bird and animal sightseeing, nature photography, health tourism, recreation, science tourism and trips. In addition, the visitors recognized the importance of sociocultural factors that are important for the development of cultural forms of tourism.
Sustainable development is in many ways the fundamental basis of tourism. The importance and role of sustainable tourism development in the 21st century is at the center of this paper on eco-certificates and green procurement in the hotel industry, within the field of the responsible or green economy. The green hotel economy implies the selection of accommodation in environmentally responsible hotels and other facilities, which are directing their business operations towards green procurement, eco-labeling, and the responsible economy. This paper includes quantitative research of the attitudes of 506 international tourists, who expressed their views on their needs regarding eco-hotels and the green economy in the hotel industry. This research also included the collection of data on green (responsible) businesses by surveying 100 hotels situated in the capitals of southern Europe. Comparing results from hotels with the needs of tourists in terms of the green economy in the hotel industry, significant results were obtained that contribute to sustainable tourism development.
Branicevo district is rich with different types of tourist values. It is characterized by diverse landforms such as mountain areas as Homolje and Zvižd; plains along the rivers of Danube, Morava, Mlava and Stig. This region is inhabited by a population whose cultural values can make the significant share of tourist offer in this part of country. Ethno-social values of Vlachs, together with local community and tourist organizations support, can create interesting tourist entertainment programs, adjusted to all age groups and interests.
