“Tourism is a people-based economic activity built on social interaction, and as such can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance. At the same time, there can be no real tourism development if such development damages in any way the values and the culture of host communities or if the socio-economic benefits generated by the tourism sector do not trickle down to the community level.” – UNWTO Secretary–general Taleb Rifai stated in his message on the occasion.
In Serbia, NTOS traditionally hosts an annual tourism awards ceremony – The Tourism Flower, the highest national award in the field of tourism. Additionally, winners of the first national competition for the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) were awarded. This year’s ceremony was held in the Belgrade Waterfront gallery.
The highest national recognition in the field of tourism, "Tourist flower" this year has been awarded in four categories:
Many activities for several years dedicated to promotion and positioning Serbia as a tourist destination on the tourism map of the world, as evidenced by the steady growth in the number of tourists as well as foreign exchange inflows. Therefore, this year, the prize is awarded to Tourism Organisation of Subotica, which is involved in numerous projects and activities to raise the quality of the destination and the promotion of Subotica, Palic and the environment. Presentation at fairs, social networks, through mobile apps and websites translated into six languages, printing new brochures on wine and rural tourism, as well as cooperation with the tourism industry, the Tourism Organization of Serbia and line ministries, organizations "Serbian youth" and the neighboring border municipality of Szeged, contributed to the increase in tourist traffic for the first 6 months to about 20%. Subotica, as the sole representative of Serbia, this year was certified to be a part of New pan-European Cultural Route of the Council of Europe: "The network of European cities secession" and "Atrium" - loop architecture of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Subotica Synagogue is already certified to be a part of "European Route of Jewish Heritage". Upon the recommendation of the New York Times, Subotica has been named one of the 52 destinations that you should visit in 2014.
There are many reasons that motivate people to travel: learning about traditions, customs and cuisine, visiting events. Tourism - cultural event "Golden Hands" combines all of these motifs in one place. Held since 1983, this is a competition is to promote preparation of old, forgotten meals and promote skills of traditional crafts and folk art. In recent years, the competition takes on national importance because participants come from all parts of Serbia, and the greatest significance of this event is its contribution to the preservation of not only local, but also national traditional values and traditions for future generations, as well as the use of ethnic motifs to modern utilitarian objects.
Square Nine Hotel Belgrade
Luxury hotels are a mandatory part of any offer significant tourist destination, and Belgrade certainly is. Square Nine Hotel Belgrade is the first world-class luxury hotel, which combines local hospitality with sophisticated design, creating an elegant and stylish environment in which special attention is paid to every detail. Selecting furniture, decorations old photographs and postcards, carefully designed gastronomic offer, as well as various facilities at the hotel and conceived sightseeing satisfy the most demanding guests. The first and so far only received in the group The Leading Hotels of the World.
"Ivanjički quarters", Raščići village, municipality Ivanjica
Rapid way of life, especially in the city, all the more necessitates of modern man to go to nature, to the countryside. Homemade food, active holidays in nature and accommodation in rural households, ethnic villages and farms are home to a growing demand.
"Ivanjički quarters" are located at 4 km from the Ivanjica center and owned by the family Velickovic.
Quality rooms, original kitchen, unique inn, rest room, swimming pool in residence halls provide all the right relaxation. Various additional facilities like: Four-wheeler, marked walking trails, observation - viewpoint, bicycle routes, snowmobiles, various sports activities and much more, make this complex one of the best in Ivanjica.
Public Enterprise "Ski Resorts of Serbia"
One of the significant potential of the tourism offer of Serbia lies in a mountain resorts. Public Enterprise "Ski Resorts of Serbia” took care of these potentials to become recognizable tourism product in the winter, and in summer season.
Serbia is highly positioned as winter tourism destination, primarily thanks to Kopaonik, not only in domestic market but also in markets all over the region and Europe. "Ski Resorts of Serbia" enabled Kopaonik to considerably extend ski season to produce of artificial snow; they have organized winter adrenaline facilities, improved technical equipment and have lost skiers safe, and have begun the preparatory work for the construction of two modern six-seat chairlift with a hood, which will be unique in Serbia.
Hoteliers in Kopaonik, Zlatibor and Stara Planina emphasize the fact that they have over 30% more visitors thanks to the construction of summer content - bike trails, bike park, bob the rails, zip line, tubing, miniature golf, and a multifunctional sports facilities for basketball, football and tennis to host tournaments for visitors.
Enriching the offer of these ski centers have also contributed to the following activities: the ability to book and purchase ski tickets online, free skiing for children from the territory of the local government, where ski centers Kopaonik, Stara Planina and Tornik are positioned:; and owners of seasonal ski pass from Slovenia allowed three days of free skiing in the Serbian ski centers.
Marijana Petrovic, TV broadcast director
Behind every well-organized event or the content of tourism destination is a personality, which often remains in the shadows.
Ms. Marijana Petrovic is one of the few deserving personalities that helped the Viminacijumu, an archaeological park and the important scientific and tourism point in Serbia, knowing thousands of people around the world.
Organized the exhibition "Roman emperors on the territory of Serbia" in the cities of America (Washington, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco) and Europe (London, Budapest), as well as the opening of the "Mammoth park", and she is also a director of a movie "Viminacijum - Serbian empire".
National Tourism Organisation of Serbia conducted this year the national selection for the European Destinations of Excellence – EDEN in Serbia. EDEN is a program of the European Commission, organized annually since 2007, promoting models of sustainable tourism development in member states and candidates for EU membership. Every year, the European Commission selects a topic related to sustainable tourism development. This year, the theme for Serbia was "Tourism and local intangible heritage". We are proud to say that a total of 40 applications was received, which is impressive having in mind that this was the first ever EDEN selection in Serbia. After successful completion of the competition, the awards to five selected destinations – Knjaževac, Kovačica, Zlatar, Topola and Kučevo – were presented on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27th 2014, at the ceremony also featuring presentation of the annual awards of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia "Tourism Flower.