CC BY
520 Quaeery and^ Agr^ulturaL
Journal Bulletin of Stavropol Region
UDK 338.48(497.11)
Drago Cvijanovic, Predrag Vukovic, Miroslav Cavlin
ECOLOGY AS A BASIS FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN SERBIA
Environmental pollution, alienation from nature, standardization and uniformity that provides life in cities caused rising demand for holidays in rural areas. A large number of different geographical areas with preserved ecosystem, rich gastronomic offer, as well as a number of different activities that can be performed in nature, represent a basis for planning development of sustainable rural tourism development in Serbia.
Paper focuses on the ecology and sustainable rural tourist development, having in mind, good preservation of the natural environment resources which Serbia has. This can be basis for the construction of rural tourism planning Serbia as a country with preserved biodiversity where visitors can enjoy in a «healthy» and active rural holidays.
Key words: ecology, sustainable development, tourism, rural areas.
Drago Cvijanovic - Ph.D., Professor, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Belgrade, Volgina 15, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia Tel.: +381 11 6972-858 E-mail: drago_c@iep.bg.ac.rs
Predrag Vukovic, M. A. - Research Assistant, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Belgrade, Volgina 15, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia Tel.: +381 11 6972-852 E-mail: predrag_v@iep.bg.ac.rs
Miroslav Cavlin - Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management, Cvecarska Street no. 2, 21000 Novi Sad
Tel.: +381 021 400 484 E-mail: cmiros@gmail.com
Introduction
Government of Serbia defined rural development as an economic, social and environmental priority. The diversification of the rural economy in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable way is need order to improve the quality of life, to reduce the poverty level, as well as to fight against social and environmental degradation. Tourism has been identified as key sector which can drive to the diversification of the rural economy.
In «Strategy of the development of tourism in the Republic of Serbia» under the notion rural tourism it is emphasized that «rural tourism includes spectrum of activities, services and additional contents which organizes rural population on family households in order to attract tourists and to make additional profit respecting the principles of sustainable development and preservation of natural resources»1.
1. Concept of sustainable rural tourist development
Document «Agenda 21»2 signed at the Rio conference in 1992 represents one of the most comprehensive with sustainable development issue.This document was signed by 178 Governments of the UN member states. It contains 40 chapters in 500 pages. Full name of the document is «The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the
1 Strategy of the development of tourism in the Republic of Serbia, first phase report, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Services of the Republic of Serbia. November, 24. 2005. p. 69.
2 Web link: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/ documents/Agenda21.pdf(05th March 2015)
Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests». Among the other things, this document discusses about interaction of tourism and agriculture in the fourteenth chapter when explains the concept of multifunctional agriculture. Full title of the chapter is «A. Agricultural policy review, planning and integrated programs in the light of the multifunctional aspect of agriculture, particularly with regard to food security and sustainable development».
Sustainable rural tourist development should recognize rights and needs of local residents (farmers), respecting their resources (natural, social, antropo-genic), lifestyle, culture, and taking account that these factors can have influence on exploitation of local resources, touristic, natural and all the other.3
The aim of researching sustainable development is to be taken of the impact of economic and social growth in the overall ecological processes and the very quality of the environment.
Sustainable tourism represents a way to meet the needs of present generations, both tourists and residents, without arrogant interpretation ability of future generations to meet the needs of soybeans.4
2. Serbian resources for sustainable tourist development
As it is well known, rural areas cover more than 80 % of the Serbian territory and on these areas ac-
3 Bakic, O. (2003): „Marketing at tourism", Faculty of Economics, Universtiy of Belgrade p.33.
4 Baum, T., (1996): "Managing Human Resources - in the European Tourism and Hospitality Industry", Thompson Business Press, London, p.9.
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cording to the Register from 2002. lives 43,6 % of the total number of population. Serbia doesn't have an exit to the sea coast and there is only one real ski resort centre «Kopaonik» (if we, based on the circumstances, leave out Brezovica, located in Kosovo and Metohija).
According to these data it could be concluded how big potential Serbia has for the development of rural tourism and how big importance of rural areas is for the whole life.
Currently 10 % of Serbian territory covered protected areas5 From the aspect of quality of preservation the environment, Serbia on the whole has largely preserved natural environment. Serbia has 5 national parks with high quality of the environmental protectionFruskagora, Djerdap, Kopaonik, Tara, and Sharplanina.
In Serbia, a number of laws regulating the relationship to environmental protection. Certainly in the first place among the most important are the Law on Environmental Protection6,aswellasnumerous by laws, suchas, forexample, the Regulation on Protection of Natural Rarities7, Regulation on putting under control the use of trade in wild fauna and flora8 as well asnumerous otherby-lawsthat directlyregulate therelationship tothe environment.
From the aspectof tourismand its rolein the pres-ervationandprotection of the environmentas the most importantlegal documentemphasizesthe Lawon
Tourism9, and thenthere arenumerous bylawsthat accompanythisimportant document.
The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted a number of strategic documents related to environmental protection. Some of them are:
- National Strategyof the Republic of Serbiafor the approximation of environmental (December 2011);
- National Strategy onthe sustainable useof natural resources;
- Strategy of management mineral resources in the Republic of Serbia by 2030 years.
- Strategy and Policy industry Development of the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2011 to 2020.
- Strategy of Biodiversity the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2011 to 2016.
- Draft Waste Management Strategy for thepe-riod 2010-2019.
- National Strategyforthe inclusionof the Republic of Serbiain the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocolto the sectors of waste management, agriculture and forestry.
- The strategy for in troducing clean production in Serbia10.
A detailed review ofprotected naturalheritagein Serbiais given in Table 1.
Table 1 - Protected natural heritageof theRepublic of Serbia
Republic of Serbia Central Serbia AP Vojvodina APKosovo andMetohija
Total 1.106 - - -
National Parks-total 5 3 1 1
Nature parks-total 14 4 9 1
Landscapes-total 17 14 2 1
Area of exceptional importance 11 8 2 1
Reserves-total 73 45 21 7
Special Nature Reserve 15 4 11 -
General Nature Reserve 1 1 - -
Monuments of nature-total 312 192 85 35
Natural Monumentbotanical character 257 152 83 22
Natural Monument geological and hydrological character 55 40 2 13
Areasofculturalandhistorical significance-total 43 32 6 5
Total protected the native goods 464 - - -
Naturalrarityplant species-Total 215 - - -
NaturalRaritiesspecies-total 427 - - -
Source: Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia - http://www.zzps.rs/novo/index.php?jezik=sr&strana=zastita_prirode_zasti-cena_prirodna_dobra (05th March 2015)
3. Sustainability and competitiveness of tourist destination
The characteristic of the modern tourist restructuring is installation of efficient environmental components in the overall tourism product and its promotion, treating it as a very important link for the
achievement of competitive position and condition for attracting new tourist demand. Even more mounting environmental components is a priority task for the reintegration process in Serbia contemporary tourism flows, i.e. its responsibility in the tourism market and strengthen its competitiveness.
5 Data from Institute for nature converstation of Serbia.
6 Official gazette RS, no.135 /2004, 36/2009, 72/2009.
7 Official gazette RS, no. 50/93.
8 Official gazette RS, no. 31/2005 and 45/2005.
9 Official gazette RS, no. 36/2009; 88/2010; 99/2011, 99/2011 and 93/2012.
10 All strategies can be taken at official web of Serbian Government: http://www.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/dokumenti_sekcija.php?id=45678
22 Ä and Practice AgrcU*™!
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Based on the model of tourism competitiveness is made by Vengesayi S., (2003)11, popularization tourist destinations can be enhanced by appropriate combination of factors of competitiveness and attractiveness. On this basis can ask questions:
- How to make the brand in a rural area, as well as
- What are the factors of attractiveness and competitiveness of destinations crucial (responsible) for the creation of a new rural brand?
In process of answering this question, it should bear in mind what concept of modern tourism approach particularly recommended, it is ecology and sustainable development.
The answer is more than justified, since it is obvious that the urban environment every day more and more polluted. Tourists today want ecologically clean environment in which they can spend their free time and be able to consume organically produced «healthy» foods. Continuously strengthen the requirements for the environmental quality of products and services on the one hand, but also it strengthens needs of local residents to preserve their own natural environment on the other. Therefore, these dual interests meet in sustainable tourism development. That's the key how to achieve the complementary development of rural and sustainable tourism.
Principles of sustainable development focus on:
- Understanding the value and level of influence of many different factors on the environment;
- Preserving, protecting and improving the quality of existing natural and anthropogenic sources, insisting on the regional aspect of development planning;
- Insistence on strict standards in the construction of tourism infrastructure;
- Providing a good balance of economic, social, environmental and other objectives.
Implementation principles of sustainable tourism development in the primary focuses put questions:
- Understanding of the value and power of influence of numerous factors on the environment;
- Preservation, protection and improvement of the quality of the natural, cultural, historical and other resources;
- Emphasizing the regional aspect of development planning;
- Establishing rigorous standards for the construction of tourist infrastructure.
- A good balance of economic, social, environmental and other aims.
From the strategic point of view, the development of tourism needs to emphasize the issue of the environmental, health, recreational value and specificity of receptive space.
4. Tourist destination management model through concept of sustainability
Regardless of the type of tourist destination, surely that the main value of destination is its environment, and that is also for what is primarily directed tourism demand. When it comes to rural tourism, it is a rural area. People from urban centers visit rural areas to get «rural tourist experience» in the interactive relationship.
Figure 1 - Components of rural tourist experiences
+ =
Tourist product
Rural ambience
Rural tourist experiences
Source: «Master plan for sustainable rural tourism development in Serbia (2011), p. 115-116. UN Joint Programme «Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development», Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, National Tourism Organization.
Both components (the tourist product and rural ambience) must contain a strong environmental component to help tourists to get the full «rural tourism experience.» Only if it has been complying with all environmental standards about the way how to protect natural environment, it can be concluded that the destination has a tourist attraction in terms of tourism demand, i.e. tourism is competitive from the aspect of tourist attractions. For that reason, it is priority to protect and develop quality of environment, because only if it is protected, i.e. fulfill standards which are prescribed by law, it represents value and tourist attractiveness, and it is also a subject of tourist demand and interest. In that sense priority question is management of tourism influence on environment, and quality of rural area.
In destination exist conflict of interest between those who seek to preserve the natural environment and those which nature of business leading to its jeopardizing. Task of tourist destination management is to generate all interests in one «Local Agenda 21 for Tourism» (Program for Sustainable Tourism Development) and realizing a plan that should cause that Local Agenda 21 become part of the integral strategy for tourist destination development.
In the model, known by the acronym VICE (Visitors, Industry, Community, Environment) the point is that in a unique way make connections of interests of all stakeholders who will have benefit from the decisions on sustainable development of tourist destination.
UNWTO (2007)12 define that the VICE model (figure 1) presents destination management as the interaction between the visitors, the industry that servers them, the community that hosts them and the environment where this interaction takes place. The last of these, the environment, can be understood in its broadest sense to include built and natural resources on which many tourism products are based.
11 Vengesayi S., (2003) A Conceptual Model of Tourism Destination Competitivness and Attractivness,ANZMAC 2003, Conference Proceedings Adelaide, 01-03 Decembre 2003. p. 637-647, Retrieved July 11, 2010,web link: http://anzmac.org/ conference/2003/papers/CON20_vengesayis.pdf (на дан 01.03.2015).
12 UNWTO (2007): «A Practical Guide to Tourist Destination Management», Madrid, p.13.
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Figurel - VICEmodel
Visitor
Tourismindustry
Source: UNWTO (2007): «A Practical Guide to Tourist Destination Management», Madrid, p. 13.
Local community
According to this model, it is the role of destination managers to work through partnership and joint destination management plan in order to:13
- Welcome, involve and satisfy Visitors;
- Achieve a profitable and prosperous tourist industry;
- Engage and benefit host Communities;
- Protect and enhance the local Environment and culture.
The «Master plan for sustainable rural development»14 presented:
- Ecological strategy,
- Strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and management,
- The inclusion of rural area in regional waste management system,
- The introduction of renewable energy and support in their use,
- Minimizing environmental risks and their management,
- Social awareness and community involvement,
- Improving nature tourism.
These proposals (Strategies) actually represent the same time the condition and the «need» how to
develop rural tourism and in the same time protect natural and anthropogenic sources for future generations.
Conclusion
Making tourism more sustainable, means to take into account the economic, social and environmental impacts and needs in planning and development, and applies equally to tourism in the cities, «resorts», mountains, rural, sea side, and protected areas. Without proper planning and tourism management at destination, it may cause compromising the natural environment; also can cause social and cultural conflicts and can lead that residents will be alienated from tourism. Sustainable tourism manage with impacts of tourism on the environment, the economy and the local community, it maintains and improves destination resources for current and future needs, both for tourists and local community. These are the important basis on which must be based tourism development in rural areas of the Republic of Serbia. That is imperative in process of preserving natural and social resources for the future generations of tourists and residents.
13 UNWTO (2007), same, p. 13
14 Master plan for sustainable rural tourism development in Serbia (2011), p.115-116, UN Joint Programme «Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development», Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, National Tourism Organization.
REFERENCES:
1. Bakic O. Marketing at tourism. Belgrade : Universtiy of Belgrade. 2003. P. 33.
2. Baum T. Managing Human Resources // The European Tourism and Hospitality Industry. London : Thompson Business Press. 1996. P. 9.
3. Master plan for sustainable rural tourism development in Serbia // Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development : UN Joint Programme. 2011. P. 115-116.
4. Protected Natural Heritage of the Republic of Serbia (Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia). [Digital resource]. URL: http://www.zzps.rs/novo/index. php?jezik=sr&strana=zastita_prirode_zasti-cena_prirodna_dobra (download time: 03.09.2015)
5. Strategy of the development of tourism in the
Republic of Serbia : first phase report / Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Services of the Republic of Serbia. November, 24th, 2005.
6. UNWTO. A Practical Guide to Tourist Destination Management. Madrid (Spain), 2007. 14 p.
7. Vengesayi S. A Conceptual Model of Tourism Destination Competitiveness and Attractiveness // ANZMAC - 2003 : Conference Proceedings (Adelaide, 01-03 December 2003). Adelaide (Australia), 2003. P. 637-647. [Digital resource]. URL: http://anzmac.org/ conference/2003/papers/C0N20_vengesay-is.pdf (download time: July 11, 2010).
8. Government of the Republic of Serbia. [Digital resource]. URL: http://www.srbija.gov. rs/vesti/dokumenti_sekcija.php?id=45678 (download time: 21.06.2015)
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9. United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992. 351 p. [Digital resource]. URL: https://sustainable development. un.org/con-tent/documents/Agenda21 .pdf (download time: 19.03.2015) 10. Official gazette Republic of Serbia no. 135/2004, 36/2009, 72/2009
11. Official gazette Republic of Serbia no.50/93
12. Official gazette Republic of Serbia no.31/2005, 45/2005
13. Official gazette Republic of Serbia no.36/2009, 88/2010, 99/2011, 93/2012
