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| SUPPORT TO THE RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT |
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Within the United Nations joint program Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development, at a festivity in the premises of the Tourist Organization of Serbia, attended by Dr. Goran Petković, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development, Mr. William Infante, UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia and H.E. Mr. Arturo Laclaustra Beltran, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, and Ms Gordana Plamenac, Managing Director of the Tourist Organization of Serbia, grants were provided to the total values of a half million US Dollars. The support was provided based upon the accepted project proposals in the thematic windows: Tourist Destination Development through Improvement of the Service and Facility Quality, Strengthening of Competitiveness and Partnership Development in the Rural Tourism Offer, Diversification of Rural Economy through Tourism and Active Learning Tourism Investments. The approved projects will be implemented in the regions of Central Serbia, Lower Danube Region, South Banat and Eastern Serbia.
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| The United Nations joint program Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development has been implemented since December 2009, under cooperation with the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management and the Tourist Organization of Serbia. The funds for implementation of successful project drafts have been provided by the Fond for Millennium Development Goals of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain. |
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SOULFOOD SERBIA |
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The promotion of Serbia at the worldwide Tourism Fairs was started by the Tourist Organization of Serbia in 2012 by its participation in the International Tourism Fair FITUR 2012, in Spain, held in Madrid on January 18 – 22, 2012. The participants at the Serbian tourism stand, in addition to the Tourist Organization of Serbia, were also the
Tourist Organization of Belgrade, as well as the inbound travel agencies Magelan Corporation and Glob Metropoliten Tours.
The City Break offer, rest in nature, the offer of accommodation in camping sites and rural households in Serbia, youth and wine tourism, cultural routes and events to be held in 2012 were featured to the Spanish market. Since the main topic of the promotional campaign of the Tourist Organization of Serbia for 2012 is gastronomy, the promotional film ‘Soulfood Serbia’ was shown and Serbian gastronomic specialties were served there, as well. |
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The Tourist Organization of Belgrade performed for the first time at the International Tourism Fair in Bratislava ITF Slovakiatour (19.-22 January 2012.), promoting Belgrade as a desirable "City Break" destination. Emphasis was placed on the candidature of Belgrade for European Capital of Culture 2020, a city of sports, congresses and events. Since the friendly relations between Belgrade and Bratislava, two towns on the river Danube, are strong, the fair visited the President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic and as the Mayor of Bratislava Milan Ftačnjik.
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According to Dejan Veselinov, director of the Tourist Organization of Belgrade, "Promotion of Belgrade as the" City break" destination, fulfilled the axpectations. The traffic of tourists from Slovakia in 2011 were increased compared to the previous year".
After Bratislava, Belgrade will be presented at the "Danube Tourist Market" in Vienna. | |
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THE NEW HOTEL OPENED THE SEASON |
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The newly built hotel Stara Planina (four stars), situated at the most beautiful section of Stara planine - Jabučko Ravnište, at the height of 1,350 meters above the sea level, started its operation by a great New Year’s Eve 2012. This hotel, in which the Government of Serbia invested more than 30 million Euros, spreads at 28,000 sq m, has got 380 beds in 146 rooms, three conference halls, a restaurant, pizza house, bar, children’s playroom, skating rink, Wellness and Spa Center, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a ski center and an underground garage, in order to preserve the natural ambient of the mountain. It is well located for the ski and snowboard fans, since it is connected to various class lanes by the first Serbian gondola, 1,100 meters long, having the capacity of 2,400 passengers per hour, but it is also intended for those practicing mountaineering, mountain biking, fishing, paragliding and other sports. |
Organized by the Public Company Ski Resorts of Serbia, the four seated cable railway, ski lifts and a baby ski lift are operating at the moment and another four seated cable railway will be started in the new season, in order to connect the ski resorts Konjarnik and Jabučko Ravnište. As declared by Dr. Goran Petković, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development, “This is the first stage in the development of the future mountain center on this mountain, which partially makes the border between Serbia and Bulgaria and the Master Plan provides places for even 22,000 guests in the final stage.”
For the 2012 season, the Stara Planina Hotel prices will be promotional, 25 Euros for the half-board, and the ski pass is free of charge. |
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TOURISM DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
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Dr. Goran Petković, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development, who participated in the 6th Tourism Leadership Forum (EXCELTUR), held with the topics ‘Importance of Tourism as an Economy Branch Driving Economic Growth and Employment’, ‘New Model of Public and Private Partnership in Tourism’ and ‘Influence of the Current Economic Situation to this Economic Branch’, announced at a meeting with journalists, at the end of the last year, that in Serbia, having currently 265 hotels (in the last five years, their number was increased for 27%), “Three new facilities of the worldwide hotel chains Falkensteiner and Radisson in Belgrade and Holiday Inn in Novi Sad will be opened in the middle of 2012.” As declared by Mr. Petković, „Among the newly opened hotels, there are already the outstanding ones, such as Izvor in Aranđelovac, Square Nine in Belgrade and the Stara Planina hotel on Stara Planina“.
Along with the Assistant Ministers of the Tourism Sector, Dr. Renata Pindžo and the Tourism Inspection Sector, Mr. Stojan Arizanović, he pointed out also the installation of road signs for Wine Routes in four regions of Serbia, declaration signing with the neighboring countries within the cooperation on the mutual Danube projects and an increased operation of the tourism inspection on the mountains and ski resorts in the winter period has been announced, as well.
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| THE SUCCESS FORMULA |
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Celebrating the day of the January 13, 2012, Hotel Merkur in Vrnjačka Spa, the leader of the Serbian medical tourism, wiping out the margins between curing and enjoyment already for years, the Merkur Team Management, led by the CEO, Dr. Dejan Stanojević, M. A, pointed out the following last year’s results:
The Peloid Center ‘Limus Romanus’, providing the guests with the use of the latest accomplishments within therapy, relaxing and Wellness treatment by the curing mineral peloid and the Hyperbaric Chamber, which updated the program for the persons having diabetes, were opened, the new spring ‘Hot Waters’, being a capital investment of Merkur, was completed, it was invested into the latest medical equipment and the ISO standard and HACCP system were included, the accommodation capacities of the Merkur – New, Aqua, Fitness and Wellness Center facilities were reconstructed (for the first time in Serbia, rubber flooring was installed around the swimming pools and the services were supplemented by the cavitations and radio frequency programs), the new health programs (‘For Your Easier Step’ and ‘Lady Life’) and the Wellness ones (the Royal, Relax and Romantic Weekend’) were included, the education program for the diabetes patients was improved by the Food as Medicine project and the Merkur Loyalty Club Passport was created for the most faithful guests – a product providing its owners the status and importance they deserve.
Just in front of the winter tourism season, under the slogan Welcome to the Discount World, the Merkur Hotel Management invites the guests to use in the forthcoming period the 20% discount to the Medical Programs and the 20 – 50% discount to the Wellness Programs. The programs have been conceived as the individual and family ones, for all generations and interests.
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After including three Serbian travel agencies into the charter set up project on the route Belgrade – Larnaka, the first one after a break of 12 years, upon the initiative and financial support of the National Cyprus Tourism Organization, and after the Serbian tourists’ discovery of summer holiday charms in this island country in the Mediterranean Sea, the third largest island in Europe (after Sicily and Sardinia), where, as believed, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility, was born on its coasts, Dionysos Travel & Tours Ltd. features to the Serbian market this year with the message ‘We are the only agency in Cyprus having Serbian language speaking Management and staff’.
This Cyprus company, specialized in the travel industry, which participated in the recently held Tourism Fairs ITB Berlin and WTM London under the slogan Your Reliable Partner in Cyprus, will offer to the tourists and travel agencies from Serbia at the forthcoming Belgrade Tourism Fair IFT 2012, in addition to the ‘Serbian language speaking Management and staff’, also a great choice of hotels in Limasol, Larnaka, Ayia Napa, Pafos and Protaras, as well as the opportunity of organizing a visit to Nicosia and Lefkara, Aphrodite’s Beach, the mosaics in Pafos, Trodos mountain, Kykos Monastery, as well as other Cyprian attractive destinations.
The Dionysos Travel & Tours Ltd. is inviting all parties interested in cooperation for an agreement during the Belgrade Tourism Fair (February 23 – 26, 2012).
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WELL IMAGINED ACQUAINTANCE |
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EuroJet travel agency started the Go2 Serbia project, in order to feature to the local and international tourists Belgrade as a travel destination by special programs: Underground Belgrade (the Underground Belgrade contains hundreds of localities, such as caves, legumes, rivers covered by walls, tunnels, bunkers and other structures destroyed and built by the nations settling Belgrade. The tours are organized under cooperation with the Tourist Organization of Belgrade and support of the Youth Hostels Association of Serbia), the Clubbing Tour (the discovery why Belgrade was pronounced as one of the top worldwide night amusement destinations), the Bohemian Tour (getting acquainted with the Bohemian way of living in the old inns, with the national cuisine specialties), Belgrade Air Sightseeing (a flight 150 meters above the Danube and 100 meters far from Belgrade Fortress and the Sava/Danube mouth, with a perfect view to the capital), from the rivers and in the capital’s streets. These programs, as well as special tours, are realized on the guaranteed dates, on all week days, in English and Serbian language. As declared by the EuroJet Management, “23 guaranteed starts with not less than 2 persons are carried out every week, which means the guests will have an adequate program daily, during which they will be able to meet under professional service all capital beauties.”
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THE DANUBE – A COOPERATION RIVER |
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The Danube River Network of Protected Areas published the edition Exploring Nature along the Danube River, introducing 15 protected areas, among which also the National Park Đerdap. Tourism in the nature may be an important source of incomes for the region, especially bearing in mind that the most protected areas are located in less developed regions. Thus, the Danube Network members, including also the National Park Đerdap, have got the objective of developing the general brand of the Danube tourism, based upon the beauties and values of the nature, tradition and culture. In this respect, several workshops were organized during last year, devoted to the tourism in nature as the key element to fulfill the educational mission of the protected areas and raise the consciousness of the nature preservation. Considering the visit to the protected areas of the Danube as a travel to the most precious nature areas in Europe, the operation upon cooperation expansion has been announced in the Danube Network, in order to raise the tourist offer quality, as well as the operation upon innovation introducing into the features and cross-border tour creation.
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INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW PROJECTS AND FUNDS |
Although it has not got all necessary infrastructural conditions provided yet, the Camping Tourism in Kanjiža has got many years long tradition and a great potential, interesting for local and international users. In this respect, the Local Self-Management accepted fulfillment of the Project of Infrastructure Arrangement and Furnishing of the Car Camping Tisza Flower at the One Star Level and the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development approved the first donation stage to the amount of RSD.4,000,000.00, with the contracted works completion deadline not later than April 2012. Since the Car Camping Lot is only about twenty kilometers far from the Horgos Border Crossing (Corridor 10) and there are already clients camping there for many years, as declared by Ms. Ljubinka Taljai Maksimović, Managing Director of the Tourist Organization of Kanjiža, „This tourism branch has got a great economic cost – effectiveness, social and economic justification. Thus, for the project realization a part of the neccessary own funds was provided from the budget of the Municipality of Kanjiža. By the project realization, the fulfillment of the basic objective is enabled, the quality increase of the staying conditions at the camping lot, first of all for the local and then also international guests”.
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A LINK OF CULTURE AND TOURISM |
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Following the worldwide standards of linking tourism to culture (may we remind you that the World Tourism Day 2011 also had the basic theme Tourism – Linking Cultures), the Junaković Spa, famous for its Wellness and Spa programs by the highest standards, medical rehabilitation, holidays and rehabilitation, has organized already for the twenty second successive time the Painting Colony ’Kolut Mandić’ in its premises, on January 24 – 29, 2012. This spa, having an outstanding collection of paintings of the famous painter Milan Konjović, gathers within the Colony the artists who foster the Serbian classic painting, such as Dragan Martinović, Zoran Krulj, Janos Mesaros and others. In addition to the artists’ works, the spa guests also enjoy all advantages of popular prices for the staying for 30 and more days for healthy guests or full board till April 1, 2012.
Hence, the prices per person per day, depending upon the accommodation type and service, vary from RSD.1,600 to RSD.2,420. There is also the possibility of payment in six monthly installments. Special PACKAGES FOR TWO and FAMILY PACKAGES, for the families with one of two children, for 8 and 11 days, have been planned, as well.
The NEW YEAR’s EVE 2012 has been in Junaković Spa, as well, with special conveniences and programs.
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PLANING IN DUE COURSE |
In the middle of the full tourist season, when the mountain centers are turned first of all to the current filling of the accommodation facilities, the Jat Apartments, located just in the middle of the Tourist Center Kopaonik, have already offered, in addition to the winter packages, also programs and price lists intended for the youth tourism – excursions and recreational teaching, for the spring and autumn 2012. As declared by Mr. Milovan Perišić, CEO of the Jat Apartments, “The winter season is going on, but since we have got something to offer and also the climate in this mountain, called a ‘Blood Cell Factory’, is curing, we already now think about the forthcoming period. In this respect, we are already now inviting travel agencies and tour operators for agreement”.
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| THE USEFUL MEETINGS |
The National Regional Development Agency organizes the 2nd International Business Meetings for Tourism Companies, within the European Entrepreneurship Network project, with the objective of connecting and business cooperation establishing. The Meetings will be held on February 24, 2012, at Belgrade Fair, within the International Tourism Fair.
The Business Meetings are bilateral discussions of the interested participants for not more than 30 minutes, which should be concentrated to featuring both sides and the desired cooperation. As declared by the organizer, „This is an opportunity to establish contacts and business relations with local and international tour operators, travel agencies, Tourist Organizations, hotels, restaurants, hostels, ski centers, spas, etc. The Business Meetings provide an opportunity of establishing direct contacts to prospect partners, find out the tourism news and trends, promote its own activity and exchange experiences“.
The participation in the Meetings is free of charge and a catalogue with business profiles of all event participants will be available to the interested parties. The final deadline for the participation registration is February 10 and February 16, 2012 for the appointment of the bilateral discussions. The final schedule of the appointed bilateral meetins will be published on February 18, 2012, on the Website www.b2match.eu/bitbe2012 and sent to all participants to the e-mail address mentioned by them in their online application.
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