DEVELOPMENT OF SPA TOURISM IN DEVASTATED RURAL REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Abstract

The subject matter of the paper is an exploration of the possibilities and limitations for the spa tourism development in devastated rural regions of the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the paper is to point out to main obstacles for more efficient use of the healing natural resources in the spas situated in the least developed local administrative units (LAU) of the Republic of Serbia. We start from the hypothesis that the development of spa tourism in devastated rural regions of the Republic of Serbia could not be possible without regional state aid. We define devastated rural regions of the Republic of Serbia on the basis of the "Law of Regional Development" and its accompanying regulations. In order to explain the complexity of economic problems of the spa resorts in devastated rural regions, we compare relevant statistical data for 2017 and 2018 with the data from the last 2011 Census. Based on the "Law on Investments" and its accompanying regulations, we analyze the existing and possible investment policy instruments aimed for the development of spa tourism in least developed LAU of the Republic of Serbia.

The subject matter of the paper is an exploration of the possibilities and limitations for the spa tourism development in devastated rural regions of the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the paper is to point out to main obstacles for more efficient use of the healing natural resources in the spas situated in the least developed local administrative units (LAU) of the Republic of Serbia. We start from the hypothesis that the development of spa tourism in devastated rural regions of the Republic of Serbia could not be possible without regional state aid. We define devastated rural regions of the Republic of Serbia on the basis of the "Law of Regional Development" and its accompanying regulations. In order to explain the complexity of economic problems of the spa resorts in devastated rural regions, we compare relevant statistical data for 2017 and 2018 with the data from the last 2011 Census. Based on the "Law on Investments" and its accompanying regulations, we analyze the existing and possible investment policy instruments aimed for the development of spa tourism in least developed LAU of the Republic of Serbia.