The Third International Tourism and Rural Tourism Fair, held on November 24 - 26, 2011, at Šumadija Fair in Kragujevac, turned this year fully from a regional tourism meeting point into an important tourism event with more than 50 local and international exhibitors.

The Fair, organized by Šumadija Fair and the City Tourism Organization Kragujevac, under cooperation with the City - Economic Resources Department - Economy and Entrepreneurship Section, was held at the right time, just before the full winter tourism season. Thus, the travel agencies gathered at its stand by their YUTA Association, promoted the offer for the Winter 2011/12, New Year's Eve, Christmas and Eastern Holidays.

In order to present the tourist potentials of Serbia and the Regional Countries, first of all those having in their offer the agricultural tourism, the Fair gathered many exhibitors - tourism centers, spas and resorts, medical-recreational and SPA capacities, National, Regional and City Tourism Organizations, representatives of the rural and hunting tourism. The Fair was opened by Dr. Goran Petković, State Secretary of Tourism in the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development, pointing out that "The Tourism Fair in Kragujevac develops in the good direction since it is getting specialized for a special tourism section - the rural, environment and medical tourism, becoming increasingly attractive for the international and local tourists". Ms. Gordana Plamenac, Managing Director of the Tourist Organization of Serbia, reminded that "a part of this rich tourism offer of Serbia had already been in the new advertising spot 'Food for the Soul', paying great attention to the country's offer". Ms. Snežana Milisavljević, CEO of the City Tourist Organization Kragujevac, believes it is normal that Kragujevac is the initiator of such a fair event, since "Near Kragujevac is the geographic center of Serbia anyway, whereas the city itself is the home of modern Serbia, since the capital heritage has been saved through the foundations of the First Grammar School, Court, University education, the first Pharmacy, Theater, Constitution, the First Dancing and Painting School".

The basis of the Fair held in the center of Šumadija was the Rural Tourism, a rising tourist/economic branch. Good practice examples from Serbia and the neighboring countries were shown, and households from Serbia, dealing with tourism and manufacturing of pure environment health food from their regions featured there, as well. That this is the right development way of this Fair it was proved by the Round Table Confference, where the representatives of YUTA. Serbian Spas and Resorts Association and Tourism Organizations have already announced, through the discussion with Ms. Sanja Stamenković Rašević, Marketing Director of the Šumadija Fair, they would come also next year.

The Third International Tourism and Rural Tourism Fair had also considerable side event programs this year, among which the outstanding ones were the presentations 'Tourism Development Projection Supporting the Rural Development', 'Affordable Tourism' and 'Categorizing of the Rural Households Interested in Dealing with the Rural Tourism', the side and expert consulting of the Ministries of Economics and Regional Development and Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, YUTA and other Associations, as well as the exhibiting/educational and commercial features. Members of the fishing and hunting associations competed in fish soup and hunter's gulyás cooking and on the third Fair day, the visitors enjoyed now already the traditional Šumadija Tea Party - a competition in the boiled brandy preparation.