- Ecotourism in Serbia
Ecotourism development in Serbia
Ecotourism has been defined as a form of nature-based tourism in the marketplace but it has also been formulated and studied as a sustainable development tool by academics, development experts and non-governmental organizations since 1990. The term ecotourism refers on one hand to a concept under a set of principles, and on the other hand to a specific market segment. One of the earliest definitions of ecotourism is produced by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES): ‘’Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people’’.
Analysis of numerous definitions of ecotourism indicates that three dimensions can represent the main essence of the concept. According to this interpretation, ecotourism is: nature based, environmentally educated, and sustainably managed. One further dimension of ecotourism not referred to in most definitions involves the small-scale, personalized and hence alternative nature of many classical ecotourism experiences.
Ecotourism can be considered as a sub-component of the field of sustainable tourism, primarily a sustainable version of nature tourism, while including rural and cultural tourism elements. At the same time, ecotourism is small but rapidly growing industry segment working within a niche market that is governed by market forces and regulations. Ecotourism and adventure tourism are subcomponents of nature tourism, while ecotourism has stronger links to rural and cultural tourism than adventure tourism.
From functional viewpoint, ecotourism in the marketplace is mostly individual or small-scale tourism (tour groups up to 25, and hotels with less than 100) that is operated by small- and medium-sized companies in natural areas. It represents a segment of the marketplace that concentrates on leading and accommodating small groups in natural areas in an educational manner using interpretative materials and local specialist guides.
Well-preserved nature is one of the fundamental competitive advantages for tourism development in Serbia. Variety of natural resources is additional reason to consider development of ecotourism in Serbia as important tool for sustainable tourism development and as consistent and long-term approach to achieve sustainability. The bases for development of ecotourism as a niche market for Serbian tourism are protected areas (five national parks, three Ramsar sites, biosphere reserve, nature reserves, nature parks, etc.).
There are four crucial factors that are fundamental for future tourism development in Serbia:
- diversity of tourism products (mountains, spas, lakes and rivers, city centres, rural tourism, potentials for ecotourism, adventure tourism, etc),
- well-preserved natural environment,
- richness of cultural heritage (medieval monasteries, Studenica and Sopocani monastery are on UNESCO list of world cultural heritage),
- hospitality of the people.
Well-preserved nature is one of the fundamental competitive advantages for positioning of Serbian tourism on the international tourist market. Variety of natural resources is additional reason to consider development of ecotourism in Serbia as important tool for sustainable tourism development in Serbia and to represent consistent and long-term approach to achieve sustainability. The bases for development of ecotourism as a niche market for Serbian tourism are protected areas. There are five national parks in Serbia (Djerdap, Fruska Gora, Kopaonik, Sar planina and Tara), three Ramsar sites (Ludasko jezero, Obedska bara and Carska bara) and one biosphere reserve – ‘‘Golija-Studenica’’. There are in total 418 protected areas among them 71 nature reserves, 19 nature parks and 322 natural monuments as well as 215 plant and 427 animal species designated as natural rarities.
In order to develop ecotourism as sustainable form of nature tourism in Serbia it is necessary to achieve acceptance of new guidelines and new policies, according to changed economic and political conditions in Serbia. With the respect to the leading role of the Government of the Republic of Serbia in the creating and defining of the conditions for the tourism development, the appropriate planning within the sustainable tourism development concept must be based on the partnership between the main stakeholders: government, private sector – the industry and its associations involved in the process of fulfilling the needs of tourists, local population, and non-governmental organizations.
