TRAILS OF TRADITION ALMA MONS doo Novi Sad Regional agency for SME development Novi Sad,

Objective: rural area development through Purpose: creation of unique touristic product in the South Backa Region Contribution to the Strategy of SME development Supported by: – GTZ – UNOPS Involvement of many local actors – private and public Project background

(P) - Participatory motivating + involving local stakeholders (A) - Appraisal quick diagnostic: strengths and weaknesses of the local economy (CA) - Competitive Advantage Creating a unique competitive advantage for the local economy What is Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantage (PACA ® )?

Objectives of PACA ® in the Tourism Sector in South Bačka? Identify, with a rapid appraisal, the main strengths and weaknesses of the tourism sector in South Bačka and its main sub- sectors (duration: 4 weeks) Identify options for practical activities to strengthen the competitiveness of the tourism location and its firms – visible in the short term (3-4 months) and medium term (6-12 months)

Sequence of Activities in the Tourism PACA in South Bačka PACA-Project PACA-Exercise (4 weeks) Fieldwork (3 weeks) Results- Workshop: Diagnosis + Proposals Imple- mentation Hypothesis Workshop Kick-off Workshop Presentation Event Way-forward Workshop Mini-workshops Interviews Preparation: *Organisation *Advance Info Presen- tation Event

What have we been doing? (6 February 2004 – 9 March 2004)  Interviews with stakeholders  Mini-workshops with – Directors of Travel Agencies – Actors from Events Tourism – Actors from Ethno Tourism – Actors from Wine Tourism – Actors from Active Tourism  Involved so far more than 100 local actors

Structure of this presentation 1. Diagnosis of the tourism sector in South Bačka 2. Short- and medium-term proposals to promote the tourism sector in South Bačka

Sub-sectors considered in the South Bačka Tourism PACA ®  Ethno Tourism: cultural tourism religion tourism eco tourism agro tourism  Event Tourism:  cultural events  ethno events (food and music)  fairs  sports events  Wine Tourism  Active Tourism:  bike and walking tour  hunting and fishing  riding  bird watching and photo safari  golf  nautical sports  collecting herbal plants  paint ball  basket ball

DIAGNOSIS General Observation Strengths – Potentials – Culture and tradition – Outstanding natural potentials – Unique tourist offer – Great variety of sites concentrated on a relatively small area

DIAGNOSIS General Observation WEAKNESSES – Lack of financial means – Inadequate infrastructure – Poor marketing activities – Lack of horizontal and vertical coordination between actors – EU standards not applied – Unfavourable regulations

DIAGNOSIS Ethno Tourism STRENGTHS – Great traditional and cultural heritage – Outstanding natural and ecological potentials – Meeting global tourist trend – Various tourist opportunities – Willingness of local actors to participate

DIAGNOSIS Ethno Tourism WEAKNESSES – Bad loan conditions – Problem of accessibility – Insufficient promotion activities – Inadequate educational level of local actors – Poor organization – Lack of hosting capacities in rural regions

DIAGNOSIS Wine Tourism STRENGTHS – Great wine tradition (variety of sorts) – “Bermet” as a potential brand – Existing wine festivals – Possibility of joined offer with traditional food specialities

DIAGNOSIS Wine Tourism WEAKNESSES – Unorganized seller`s market – Lack of appliance of standards on wine cellars – Poor support from local government – Undeveloped export possibilities – Inadequate hosting capacities

DIAGNOSIS Event Tourism STRENGTHS – Unique character (Exit festival e.g.) – Increase in tourist arrivals – Municipality support for the most significant events – Possibility of joined offer with other tourism sub-sectors – Multiethnic features

DIAGNOSIS Event Tourism WEAKNESSES – Poor promotion of less affirmed events – Lack of coordinated scheduling – Inappropriate side events (junk) – Inadequate cooperation with similar events abroad

DIAGNOSIS Active Tourism STRENGTHS – Nautical, fishing and water sports potential of Danube – Sports and recreational valorization of Fruska Gora – Cycling and walking paths potentials – Tourist demand for active tourism – Great opportunities of connecting with tour packages

DIAGNOSIS Active Tourism WEAKNESSES – Poor road conditions – No camping sites available – Insufficient promotion of active tourism – Bad maintenance of mountain accommodation capacities – Lack of toilets – Inadequate coordination among sports organizations

PROPOSALS Cross-cutting SHORT-TERM Data base and statistics Wider web promotion of our touristic values Touristic package Garbage removal MEDIUM-TERM Participation on tourism fairs abroad Signalisation Favourable loan conditions

PROPOSALS Ethno tourism MEDIUM-TERM Seminars & courses Founding of association of actors in ethno tourism Introduction of EU standards Location marketing Improved access to “salaši”

PROPOSALS Wine tourism SHORT-TERM Map of wine routes Data base of producers Organisation of wine testing tour for local restaurant owners MEDIUM-TERM Standards Wine queen competition Internet presentation Contacts with other European wine regions

PROPOSALS Event tourism SHORT-TERM Connection with similar events abroad Promo-material preparation Co-operation between organizers of events Analysis of demand Collaboration with tour operators MEDIUM-TERM Categorisation of events

PROPOSALS Active tourism SHORT-TERM Creation of sport tours MEDIUM-TERM Cycling path along the Danube Map of walking and cycling paths Map of mountain bike tours Map of potentials in sports Walking tours with collecting herbal plants Advanced promotion material and activities

Sequence of Activities in the Tourism PACA in South Bačka PACA-Project PACA-Exercise (4 weeks) Fieldwork (3 weeks) Results- Workshop: Diagnosis + Proposals Imple- mentation Hypothesis Workshop Kick-off Workshop Presentation Event Way-forward Workshop Mini-workshops Interviews Preparation: *Organisation *Advance Info Way- forward Workshops

The PACA ® team in South Bačka Milica Vracaric (Alma Mons) Christian Schoen (mesopartner) Biljana Marceta (Magelan Corporation) Jovan Rados (Etno Art Travel) Natasa Pavlovic (Tourisţ Organiz. of Vojvodina) Nikola Vucic (GTZ) Milan Babic (GTZ)

Contacts Milica Vracaric Christian Schoen Biljana Marceta Jovan Rados Natasa Pavlovic Nikola Vucic Milan Babic Zarko Maletin Jelena Kovacevic

Thank you for your attention!