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TRAVEL GUIDE THROUGH SERBIA |
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The first travel guide about Serbia in Russian language Polyglot, which was printed in September 2016, was promoted at the Russian booth at Belgrade Book Fair (October 23, 2016). As mentioned by Ms. Elena Petrova, CEO of the Publishing Company, to which Polyglot travel guides belong, "This travel guide with the highest territorial coverage, sold in the Russian speaking countries - Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, was printed in its first edition in 10,000 copies".
As declared by Mr. Rasim Ljajić, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, “This guide is a special genre of contemporary literature, uniting the tourism and publishing activities and has got the objective of featuring the beauties of Serbia, but also to contribute to the connecting and strengthening the relations among our nations. Russia is one of the most important markets for us and this guide may be the introduction into the arrival of much more Russian tourists. We are also preparing the online campaign and expect Russia also at the February Tourism Fair in Belgrade“. |
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Eyewitness Travel Guide was also printed for the English speaking area, in which the National Tourism Organization of Serbia (NTOS), under cooperation with the British multinational publishing company Dorin Kindersley (DK), features the greatest travel attractions and sights of Serbia, its culture, history, gastronomy, events, active holiday and recreation opportunities. After these two guides, the renowned Italian publisher Lonely Planet is also preparing a new guide for Serbia.
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As declared by Ms. Marija Labović, NTOS CEO, „ Owing to the NTOS and Lonely Planet's promotional activities, Serbia was selected in 2015 for one of the ten destinations that should be visited (Best in Travel 2015) and was included in the travel guide Lonely Planet Top 10 2015. Due to the great interest, the publisher decided to produce a new edition, which will include many important travel destinations in Serbia.
The new guide writers, hired by Lonely Planet, are currently staying in Serbia, collecting the information under skilled NTOS consulting“. |
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NOVI SAD 2021 |
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After the final project presentation in Brussels, NOVI SAD was designated (on October 13, 2016) for the first city outside EU that will have the title of the EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE in 2021, established to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures, strengthen cultural relations among Europeans, bring people from various European countries closer together, meet other cultures, promote mutual understanding and strengthen the European feeling. As declared by the representative of the Organization Board for Novi Sad Candidacy, „The Project Novi Sad 2021 was created as the platform for the development of cultural and creative Novi Sad potentials, with the objective of strengthening the city's cultural vitality, enable urban regeneration and improve the international reputation and tourism offer of Novi Sad, which has already become famous worldwide owing to the EXIT Festival and having a plentiful cultural offer already noticed by the global cultural publics and travel industry“.
Novi Sad, proud of many culture institutions, such as Museum of Vojvodina, Gallery of Matica Srpska, The Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection, The Gallery of Fine Arts – Gift Collection of Rajko Mamuzić, Theater Museum of Vojvodina, Serbian National Theater and others, was designated to be one of the three European Capitals of Culture in 2021. Novi Sad and Timisoara (Romania) will be joined also by a city from Greece, Elefsina, Kalamata or Rhodes.
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FOR THE NEW QUALITY IN TOURISM |
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Organized by the Tourist Prism magazine from Novi Sad, the WESTM 2016 – 3rd Winter & Spa Travel Market was held in Belgrade (October 20 – 21, 2016, Zira Hotel), a business meeting intended for congress, seminar and other event organizers, hotels and other accommodation facilities, convention centers, Tourism Organizations, travel organizers, the related services providers, the companies dealing within the convention tourism (MICE). As declared by Mr. Đorđe Mihajlović, CEO of the Tourist Prism, “Our objective is establishing of better cooperation among tourism industries of the Western Balkan and European countries“. The 3rd Winter & Spa Travel Market, opened by Ms. Marija Labović, CEO of the National Tourism Organization of Serbia, was followed by professional consulting and presentations and dominating were the topics, such as “Social Network Importance”, “Destination Branding”, “Digital Marketing Mix in Tourism”, “The Use of New Technologies – A Must for the Present Events“ and others.
The Partner Country of the 3rd Winter & Spa Travel Market was Hungary, and the Partner City was Banjaluka.
During the 3rd Winter & Spa Travel Market, the Tourist Prism awards were awarded within the action 'For the New Quality in Tourism', as well. The awarded ones were selected by the International Jury of Travel Journalists.
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This year's Tourist Prism winners: |
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| Serbia: Restaurant „Stara kafana“ – Belgrade, hotels „Galleria“ – Subotica and „IN“ – Belgrade |
| Slovenia: Kmetija „Mahnič“ – Dragonja, „Terme Resort – Rimske Terme“ – Rimske Toplice |
| Croatia: Hotel „Puntijar“ – Zagreb, Tourist organizaton of city of Krk - Krk |
| Montenegro: „Dukley Hotels&Resorts“ - Budva |
| Macedonia: „Gardenia Hotels&Spa“ – Veles, Hotel,bar and restaurant „Senigallia“ - Skoplje |
| Special prize: TO of Belgrade for its contribution to the development of congress tourism in the South-Eastern Europe. |
The next, 4th Winter & Spa Travel Market – WESTM 2017 will be held on October 19 – 20, 2017 in Belgrade. |
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NOT ONLY QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO SOLUTIONS |
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Organized by the Editorial Board of the contemporary hotel management and tourism magazine Tourism World, under partnership with the Association for Tourism of Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the 13th HOTEL MANAGER FORUM was held in Belgrade (November 1, 2016, Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
As declared by Ms. Ljiljana Rebronja, CEO and Editor of the Tourism World magazine, „The Forum focus was also this year on important topics for the present moment and the future of the hotel industry and first of all, upon quality, the untouchable success foundation in catering and tourism. |
At the Forum, we did not just ask questions, but also suggested the solutions applicable in practice”. The Forum, attended by lecturers both from Serbia and the Swiss Glion Institute, Dubrovnik Rochester Institute, Croatian Valamar Group, the London benchmarking company ST Global and many others, was dominated by three basic topics: “Quality Improvement of the Travel Destination and its Impact on the Hotel Offer/Service Quality and vice versa”, “The Revenue Management Necessity in the Modern Hotel Management” and “Staff Education in Accordance with the Contemporary Hotel Industry”.
The Forum, having gathered professionals from various hotel sectors, representatives of the related industries, Professors and consultants, as well as the students of Hotel Management Faculties, was followed also by the presentations of the latest products and services from the HoReCa program.
The Anniversary recognition awarding The Good Service Ambassador was also announced at the 13th HOTEL MANAGER FORUM and will be held on December 14, 2016, in the Belgrade Crowne Plaza Hotel. |
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TOWARD THE WINTER SEASON 2016/2017
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Toward the forthcoming winter season 2016/2017, at the Serbian mountain resorts, sking and winter sport fans, the skiers and boarders, may earlier than ever buy in pre-sale ski passes with the 15% discount, through Web Shop, till November 15, 2016 and take their ski passes in the desired ski resort a day before the skiing beginning. Public Company Ski Resorts of Serbia organizes for the first time this type of ski pass sales and all information, with precise use and sales conditions, are at the Website www.skijalistasrbije.rs. As regarding the most visited Serbian ski resort – Kopaonik, the final preparations for the forthcoming winter season are already going on. As declared by Ms. Ana Jovanović, PR of the Public Company Ski Resorts of Serbia, „This ski resort is equipped by more than 350 devices for the artificial snow production (fixed and mobile cannons and launchers), which is adequate to cover the whole ski area. We prepare also a surprise for the youngsters who will spend their holiday and winter break on Kopaonik – Children’s Town, having many interesting components, castles, tents, cottages, rubber seesaws, toboggans and a large Snowman. The Children’s Town will be located in the Sport Valley and its use will be free of charge”.
That winter and winter sport fans are impatiently waiting for the winter season beginning on Kopaonik, shows the fact from MK Mountain Resort, having the accommodation facilities at the best locations that “By the end of September, twice more winter packages were booked than in the same period last year”. This is contributed also by the popular Ski Opening Kopaonik, held for the seventh time this year on December 8 – 11.
And all this winter will bring on the Serbian mountains – Kopaonik, Zlatibor (Tornik) and Stara Planina, will be shown by the Public Company Ski Resorts of Serbia at the trade fair EXPOZIM (December 1 – 4, 2016, Belgrade Fair), when also the ski passes will be sold with 10% discount.
ISTN provides attached the price list of the Ski Resorts of Serbia for the winter season 2016/2017. |
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MEETING BELGRADE FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
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The Tourism Organization of Belgrade carries out, among others, also development of new tourism products and programs and showed one of them to the travel journalists and tour operators, not related to the city center, but its surrounding. The first part of the picnic is the visit to the restored house, a typical example of the national building of the famous Duke Stepa Stepanović, a participant in the Cer battle and the Thessaloniki Front break, located in Kumodraž (Belgrade Municipality of Voždovac). With the welcome with flat bread, salt and bread, the visitors listen to the story about this outstanding Serbian commander from the First World War. Then follows the visit to one of the trademarks of Belgrade – Avala Tower, which was one of the highest world towers with its 204 meters in 1965, when it was started, as we find out in the Museum of the Public Company Broadcasting Technique and Links. The view from this tower, visited annually by about 150,000 visitors, “spreads’ all over Šumadija. The last station in the new travel tour is the Ethnic Village Amerić , located near Mladenovac, half an hour drive from Belgrade. The host and property owner Dragan Vujić, waits for his guests in the traditional Serbian way and shows his household, having manege, porches with the old tools, archery and pottery production areas, stalls with horses, workshops for manufacturing of the knight equipment, knitting, brandy boiling or red salad preparation, the accommodation rooms, where the beds are filled by straw and aromatic herbs, the inn where cheese pie is served, homemade cookies, wine and other delicacies. He also announces since next spring organized workshops where the visitors will learn about medicinal herbs and how to take food from the nature.
As declared by Mr. Miodrag Popović, CEO of the Tourism Organization of Belgrade, “It is up to us to suggest such program and it is up to the tourism industry staff to accept it and include in the offer of their travel agencies. And Belgrade is increasingly popular among tourists and we have already recorded more than a million nights from January to August this year.”
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TOURISM GIFT FOR BUSINESS PARTNERS |
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In addition to the international market, Special Hospital Merkur from Vrnjačka Spa features incresingly by its plentiful offer also to the small and medium sized enterprises and entrepreneurs from the region. As declared by Ms. Bojana Beljić, Merkur PR, “We promote our current offer with the focus on specially created packages Autumn in Merkur and Winter in Merkur and many facilitations may be accomplished within them. As a special convenience, we offer the possibility of voucher buying by which companies may surprise their business partners or reward their employees.
Thus, by the vouchers considerable discounts to the services of the Spa Center Roman Spring are achieved, combining Wellness, spa and relax features, ideal for relaxing, health enhancement and the desired look accomplishment”.
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The actual program AUTUMN IN MERKUR includes full board based food, balneological therapies, various types of medical examinations, laboratory analyses and physical procedures. The accommodation price includes also daily use of Aqua and Fitness Center, as well as many other facilitations. For the early booking Merkur approves 10% discount. The actionAUTUMN IN MERKUR lasts from November 1 to December 27, 2016.
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ISTN provides attached the current Merkur programs.
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THE FEST NOVEMBER IN KANJIŽA SPA |
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| November is the new program month in Kanjiža. Special Hospital Kanjiža Spa first attends the first Health Festival in Novi Sad (November 4 -5, 2016) and them executes the special program under the title The Fest November in Kanjiža Spa (November 11, 2016). As declared by Ms. Elena Veselinov, Kanjiža Spa PR , “This program for the public fest includes the visit to our spa based on full or half board, a surprise in the room at the arrival, unlimited use of Wellness, spa and recreation services (swimming pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym and table tennis), as well as the enjoyment with the performance of Vojvodina’s tamburitza players in our restaurant”. |
Beside the special program, they organize in Kanjiža Spa, along with the Destination Management Organization (DMO) of Kanjiža, also the new excursions: MEETING KANJIŽA, EXCURSION TO SZEGED, as well as SHOPPING IN SUBOTICA AT THE CONSUMER GOODS MARKET. During weekend, the offer includes also various Wellness and spa programs, relaxation by natural resources uniting regeneration, refreshing, relaxation, prevention and beauty care, as well as balneal / therapeutic treatments, such as mineral and pearl bath and therapeutical swimming pool. Special programs have been created for retired persons with the possibility of payment in installments.
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ISTN provides attached the current programs of Kanjiža Spa. |
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THE VISIT TO REMEMBER |
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Junaković Spa, that won the award Diploma with Great Golden Medal at the 49th International Novi Sad Tourism Fair for high quality of medical rehabilitation services, featured to the individuals and organized groups the program under the title ‘Unforgettable New Year’s Eve 2017 in Junaković Spa – Apatin’. As declared by management of Junaković Spa “Beside the New Year’s Eve and fully created and complete visit of one, two or three days, the offer includes also the use of the indoor swimming pool, sauna, underwater and hand massage (relax, anti-cellulite, honey and chocolate, feet reflex massage, Scrub Marine Spa Treatment, Holistic and Ayurveda massage, Argan Therapy and lymph drainage), algae body treatment, 'Gypsum Bermuda Shorts’, the Morocco Wellness program, as well as eight lane bowling unit ‘Junaković Spa’.”
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Depending upon the type of accommodation and service, as well as the number of days, these travel package prices vary per person from RSD.6,890.00 to 15,990.00. Special discounts are provided for children.
ISTN provides attached the current packages and programs of Junaković Spa, as well as the New Year’s Eve travel package. |
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ON THE TOURS OF PANNONIAN SAILORS |
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The Round Table Conference with the topic ’Potentials of the Nautical Tourism at Vojvodina’s Canals’ was held (October 28, 2016, Čarda near Pelet, Kucura), organized by the Environmental Movement Vrbas, in the attractive natural ambient just at the bank of The Danube – Tisa – Danube canal in Kucura, an ideal place for nautical tourism, about ten kilometers far from Vrbas, within the Pilot Project ’On the Tours of Pannonian Sailors’, which affirms the nautical development at the canal network of Vojvodina (with the example of Vrbas Municipality). As declared by the organizer,“The main objectives of this project are the affirmation of nautical potentials of Serbian waterways, especially at the canals of Vojvodina, as well as the expansion of the network of marinas and harbors for recreational boats on the rivers and navigable canals“. A form part of the Round Table Conference were the speeches “Unrecognized Nautical Potentials of Serbia & Bačka District” (Krsta Pašković, “The Danube Propeller”), “Presentation of Harbor Project in Kucura“ (Stevan Ilinčić, Public Water Management Company of Vojvodina) and “WSG Technology Supporting Hydrotechnical Structures“ (Janos Major, Debrecen University).
The Conference attendees visited the Kucura Lock, one of the largest ship locks on the canals in Bačka, completed in 1962, enabling shipping on a section of the main canal Bečej – Bogojevo and unlocks the ships of up to 1,000 tons. This whole area is convenient, in addition to the nautical tourism, also for the development of the hunting, fishing and cycling / recreational tourism.
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TOURISM TRANSFORMING OF THE REGION |
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In accordance with the United Nations Decision to pronounce the year 2017 ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development’, the Center for Tourism Research and Studies from Novi Sad, under support of the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, German Corporation for International Cooperation – GIZ, Central European Initiative (CEI) and the City of Subotica, organizes on November 18 and 19, 2016, at the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, in Novi Sad, the EIAT (Education and Industry Advancing Together) – Regional Conference on Biodiversity, Carbon Neutral Tourism and Local Economic Development, under the title ’Transforming our Region: Tourism and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. As declared by Milan Ćulić PhD, President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Tourism Research and Studies, „We believe the platforms like this one will be able to contribute and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and I would point out, although tourism is perceived as the environmental problems generator, it should be understood also as a part of the solution“.
This year’s EIAT Conference, intended to be the model to get the economic and academic sectors closer, in order to accomplish most successful tourism industry development, not only in the Western Balkan region, but also further, will be dominated by the topics, such as „Nature Protection in Tourism“, „Strengthening Local Communities through Tourism“, „E-Tourism and Social Media“, „Destination Management, Branding and Promotion“ and others. The EIAT Conference participants come from Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Jordan, Italy, Croatia and other countries.
ISTN provides attached the program and event schedule of the EIAT 2016 Conference. |
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Organized by Fortuns Association and under cooperation with the International Association of Students of Tourism and Hospitality (IASTH) and the Faculty of Sciences from Novi Sad, the 3rd International Tourism and Hospitality Student Congress - #MEKST2016 is held in Novi Sad on November 25 – 27, 2016. Participation of students from 11 countries is expected in it. As declared by the organizer, „Serbia as the host at this international event strengthens the image of a good neighbor with pro-European orientation and confirms it on the spot, gathers young people, organizes their socializing, entertainment and education at one place, offers great opportunity for tourism presentation. Such events also provide opportunity to international students to meet a new Serbia – modern,beautiful, environment friendly and, of course, Serbia open to the world“. |
At the #MEKST2016 Congress, held at the Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad, the participants are lecturers from Serbia, United Kingdom, Croatia, Slovenia and other countries and the dominating topics are “Web Marketing in Tourism”, “Festival Tourism” and “New Management Concepts in Hotels”.
ISTN provides attached THE INVITATION LETTER for the #MEKST2016 Conference. |
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE |
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INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF TOURISM AND RURAL TOURISM, followed also by the selling FAIR OF WINTER SALADS AND HOME MADE CRAFTS, is held for the eighth time at the Kragujevac Šumadija Fair, on November 24 – 26, 2016. From the Tourism Organization of the City of Kragujevac, the trade fair organizer, they announce „Tourism potentials of Serbia and the regional countries will be promoted at the Fair, rural hosts will feature and travel agencies will show united offer for the winter 2016/2017. Many exhibition/educational features will be organized for the visitors and exhibitors and on the last Fair days, also awards will be awarded in the categories: The Most Successful Promotion, The Best Arranged Exhibition Space and The Best Promotional Material.
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INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF WINTER SPORT EQUIPMENT, TOURISM AND RECREATION - EXPOZIM 2016, organized by Belgrade Fair and the Sport for All Association, is held on December 1 – 4, 2016, at Belgrade Fair Hall 4. As declared by the organizer “This event provides the opportunity to all interested parties to prepare for the forthcoming winter at the season beginning, get information on the winter packages prices in Serbia and abroad, as well as to purchase new or supplement the old winter equipment. At the Expozim some travel agencies and sport equipment distributers provide discount to their packages and products from 10 – 30% and Ski Resorts of Serbia will sell ski passes with the 10% discount.
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DEVELOPMENT AND BEYOND |
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Adria Hotel Forum, the meeting point of many hotel chains, hotel managers, Local Self-Government, Governmental authorities and experts within the hotel industry investments, in order to exchange experiences and projects, will be held for the fifth time, in Zagreb, on February 8 – 9, 2017 (Sheraton Hotel). The main topic of this Forum, at which the winner project of the Faculty of Economics students from Belgrade was also featured last year ("Children Inclusion Hotel App"), by which they won the first place at the International Student Competition ASIC, is „Development and Beyond“.
Announcing the event, Ms. Marina Franolić,CEO of the Adria Hotel Forum says: “In 2015, hotel transactions in Europe amounted to more than 38.4 billion Euros. At the same time, the transactions in the Central and Eastern Europe amounted to only 6% of the total European transactions, while in the Southeast Europe region this figure is 0.9%.
Since the capital does not go where it is nice, but where the investment return is most probable, we ask questions: What is the reason of the low interest for hotel investments in Southeast Europe, What are the investment and management models applicable in this part of the world, What differs us from the developed destinations and what is to be done, How to position the destination and the most important question of today: Is this really the safe part of the world and how can we assure it?” |
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