EFFECTS OF CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION WITHIN SERBIAN BANAT ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION

Abstract

The international cooperation in terms of initiating the process of regional development of tourism within Western Balkans is evident in the themes, structure and predicted goals of IPA CBC projects supported and financed by European Union. It is rather interesting that in some countries, like Serbia, the share of such projects are rather high, with about 19% of total number of accepted projects and about 30% of total budget. The most common areas of international cooperation of Serbian towns and regions were in previous period dedicated to economic and strategic priorities, institutional building, cultural projects, sports, tourism, education, and far less those related to communal systems and infrastructure, municipal management and organization, health, formal education, community empowerment, etc.

Considering Banat region, as the area of cross-border cooperation between Serbia, Romania and Hungary, it is administratively focused on Romanian counties of Arad, Timis and Karas-Severin, Serbian regions Severnobanatski, Srednjebanatski and Juznobanatski okrug, and Hungarian county of Czongrad megye. The greatest number of tourism development projects in the area was financed through KARDS and later continued through IPA CBC programmes. Based on the analysis of implemented projects in the Banat area, it can be said that the tourism and cultural sector in this area is in expansion, and that the largest number of investments from EU funds is used precisely for the purpose of developing tourist and cultural resources of this area. However, the effects of such investments and the concrete results of projects carried out during the tenyear funding period are visible to a modest extent. The bulk of the financial resources were spent on the development of tourism development studies, educational workshops, the organization of conferences and the production of small volume publications and promotional content, as well as modest promotional activities. On the other hand, the situation regarding the state of natural and cultural resources, as well as transport and communal infrastructure and the overall quality of living of local communities, in the Banat area has not been substantially changed. The several billion worth investments spent for tourism related projects have shown the European interest and dedication to support its development in the region, which have so far proved to be a continuing process. However, in the case of Serbian Banat, the expected effects are still missing, which is evident in the general fall in the number of tourist flows towards Banat region. Control and continuous audit of the implemented activities within the projects is the only way to ensure the success, quality and sustainability of the effects, as well as the achievement of the basic objectives of the projects.