Aleksandra Vujko

“Urban geosites” as an alternative geotourism destination - evidence from Belgrade

Abstract The research aimed at testing the combination of GAM/M-GAM models (Geosite Assessment Model/Modified Geosite Assessment Model) on selected geoheritage sites (geosites) of great scientific significance and geotourism potential. Testing was done on eight sites in the City of Belgrade (Serbian capital), an area which has significant potential for geotourism development in typical urban conditions. For this purpose, an assessment scale was used to highlight differences and similarities between main and additional values of the observed geosites. The modification of the original GAM model is based on the inclusion of visitors’ opinions regarding the importance of indicators in the assessment process. The assessment was done by using both GAM/M-GAM and its results were analyzed and compared afterwards. The analysis has successfully identified locations and features of geosites that require action for maintaining or increasing their overall value and function. Moreover, the principal aim of the paper was to analyze the relevance of each sub-indicator for the assessment process by introducing the importance factor in the modified model. The authors were able to point out those values of principal importance for geosite visitors, as well as to attach a different relevance to sub-indicators, which can influence the position of the geosites in the GAM/M-GAM matrices.

Opportunities for tourism development and cooperation in the region by improving the quality of tourism services - the 'Danube Cycle Route' case study.

The Danube Cycle Route connects countries, various cultures and traditions and has favourable trends in the development of tourism in the region. Improving the quality of supply of the Route in the Bijelo Brdo (Croatia) – Petrovaradin (Serbia) section, in terms of investment in road infrastructure, signs for tourists and designing thematic maps and guides, might strengthen cross-border cooperation between Croatia and Serbia, which would result in a direct impact on tourism and the economy of both countries. After analysing the current situation of the quality of supply, on the aforementioned relation, the aim of this study was to design a series of measures to improve cycle tourism. For the purpose of this paper the survey was conducted during the year 2010, where foreign tourists – cyclists from eight countries – participated. The cyclists were asked to analyse the condition of the Route in the section Bijelo Brdo – Petrovaradin. The initial hypothesis was that that the existing tourism supply is on a relatively poor level of development, and that long-term positive effects in this part of the region can be achieved by some strategic measures to enhance the quality. This work will result in the synthesis of theory, statistical methods, and secondary publications since the analysis of the obtained data may lead to the confirmation of the main hypothesis. The survey method is used in the study, whereas the chi-square test is used to determine the frequency of specific deviations. The reliability of the scale is assessed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and the confirmatory factor analysis is applied to assess the validity.

Modelling of carrying capacity in National Park - Fruška Gora (Serbia) case study

Abstract Negative effects of tourism development in a destination are usually the consequence of the high concentration of tourists, accommodation facilities and the activities that are practiced in a relatively restricted area. One of the most important measures to protect the areas is to calculate the maximum number of tourists that can simultaneously reside in a region, i.e. the determination of the carrying capacity. This paper outlines a method for determining carrying capacity based on zoning of environmental resources and zoning within a region. The paper argues for a return to the idea of identifying maximum appropriate number of users. The main hypothesis of the paper is based on the statement that the development of tourism in Fruška Gora (Mountain) National Park in Northern Serbia must be in accordance with the basic principles of sustainability, including the determination of carrying capacity. The main research goal was to show the opinion of local residents about the uncontrolled development of tourism, and to determine the carrying capacity in four sports and recreational zones of the mountain. The carrying capacity of the area is calculated by Lavery and Stanev formulas.

The Competitiveness of Serbian Tourism in the Region During the Transition Period

TherecentinadequatedevelopmentoftourisminSerbiawasconditionedbythepooreconomicand politicalsituationthataffectedthestateoftheninetiesofthe20thcentury.Theauthorsofthepaper pointedtothecurrentsituationoftheseparationoftourisminSerbiaandthefactorsthatimplyits competitivepositionamongthecountriesoftheregion.Eachofthesestateswaspartoftheformer YugoslaviatogetherwithSerbia,andinthatperiodsharedthesamedestinyoftourismdevelopment. Theauthorsusedtheavailablestatisticaldocumentationandconductedadeskresearchtopointout theexistingestimatesof thefactorsofconcreteness thatwouldenable tourismwithanadequate strategicpolicyofproductdevelopmentandplacementtoreachahigherrankingontheregionaland worldmarket. KEywoRDS Competitiveness, Serbia, Tourism, Transition

Testing expected and perceived service quality in the hotel industry

Sаžetаk: Zadovoljstvo gostiju je ključ za zadržavanje postojećih i privlačenje novih gostiju. Kako bi dostigli ovaj cilj, menadžeri u hotelima postali su svesni činjenice da se sam kvalitet boravka upravo ogleda u jedinstvenom iskustvu od strane turista. Zаdovoljstvo korisnikа hotelskih uslugа može se ispitаti putem rаznih metodа. U ovom istrаživаnju korišćenа je tehnikа аnketnog istrаživаnjа. Ispitаnici su bili gosti hotela „Vojvodina“, „Novi Sad“ i „Park“ u Novom Sadu, zatim gosti hotela „Vojvodina“ i „Zlatni klas“ u Zrenjaninu, kao i gosti hotela „Braća Sekulić“ na Zlatiboru, i od njih se trаžilo dа ocene rаzne аspekte poslovаnjа, аmbijentа, odnosа zаposlenih premа gostimа, ukusu i rаznovrsnosti hrаne i pićа. Podaci su dati u tabelama uz kratke komentare. Nа osnovu аnаlize zаvisnih i nezаvisnih vаrijаbli, došlo se do zаključkа da su se fizičke karakteristike hotelskog objekta, kao i odnos osoblja prema gostima najčešće vezivali za lično, doživljeno iskustvo. Gosti su najmanje zadovoljstvo iskazali u pogledu korišćenja hotelskog bara. Dobijeni rezultаti mogu biti znаčаjni zа pružаoce hotelskih uslugа i doprineti unаpređenju poslovаnjа kroz prilаgođаvаnje hotelskog proizvodа potrebаmа gostа.

Evaluation of Fruška Gora National Park (Serbia) for sport and recreational tourism

The Fruska Gora National Park has one of the biggest sport and recreational potentials in Vojvodina, Serbia. Because of its favorable natural and geographical features Fruska Gora National Park. Since sports and recreational tourism is of growing importance in the tourism industry, the evaluation method to create a high quality tourism product becomes inevitable. Empirical research conducted on a sample of 304 respondents was aimed at showing the existing potentials of Fruska Gora National Park related to sport and recreational tourism. The interviews with experts from the Provincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection, the National Park and the Cycling Association of Vojvodina helped the SWOT analysis of sport and recreational tourism on Fruska Gora National Park.

Putničke agencije kao činilac razvoja biciklističkog turizma na vršačkim planinama // Travel Agencies as a Factor of Cycling Tourism Development on the Mountain of Vršac

Biciklizam je danas veoma atraktivna sportsko-rekreativna aktivnost koja zaokuplja milione neposrednih ucesnika. Bilo da je rec o takmicarskom sportu (profesionalnom ili amaterskom), ekstremnom ili rekreativnom biciklizmu, njegova uloga u turizmu može biti od izuzetnog znacaja. Sagledavajuci biciklizam u kontekstu zdravog nacina života, aktivnog odmora i rekreacije, uocava se sirok programski obuhvat koji doprinosi razvoju turizma i turistickih destinacija. Vrsacke planine predstavljaju veoma interesantno podrucje za razvoj biciklistickog turizma na podrucju Vojvodine, posebno sa aspekta kreiranja tematskih biciklistickih staza (vinska biciklisticka staza, etno biciklisticaka staza, i drugo). Za sada ne postoji jasno definisana ponuda biciklistickog turizma na ovom prostoru kao deo ukupnog turistickog proizvoda Vojvodine. Empirijsko istraživanje koje je sprovedeno na uzorku od 10 putnickih agencija u Vrscu imalo je za cilj da detektuje osnovne uzroke nepostojanja ponude za biciklisticki turizam na podrucju Vrsackih planina. Primenom Survay metoda doslo se do podataka o organizacionim ciniocima koji uticu na razvoj i funkcionisanje ovog vida selektivnih oblika turizma.

Mogućnosti razvoja peintbola na Fruškoj gori

Peintbol bi u prirodnom okruženju uticao na kompletan bio-psiho-socijalni status coveka, tako da bi sama aktivnost bila jedan od najboljih sredstava otklanjanja negativnih efekata modernog nacina života. U tom smislu za cilj rada je postavljeno da se prikažu dobrobiti koje peintbol može imati za coveka i potencijali Fruske gore za njegovo upražnjavanje. Intervju sa strucnjacima iz Pokrajinskog sekreatrijata za zastitu životne sredine, Nacionalnog Parka i kluba za peintbol, pomoglo je u analizi prednosti i nedostataka, povoljnosti i nepovoljnosti peintbola kao dela turisticke sportsko-rekreativne antistres ponude Fruske gore.