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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Tourism should play key role in transitional countries

Belgrade, 21 June 2005

Participants in a meeting of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) held in Belgrade concluded that tourism of Serbia-Montenegro can play an important role in the process of transition of the country's economy and society, as well as helping to improve its image in the world.

Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services Bojan Dimitrijevic told a press conference that the main conclusion of the meeting was that tourism should play the key role in the transformation of countries in transition, their regional cooperation and promotion of sustainable development of the region's economy.

Dimitrijevic said that participants in the meeting demonstrated that tourism is developing more quickly than other sectors of the economy, but that most countries in transition have problems with undeveloped infrastructure, low level of foreign direct investment and lack of funding for market research and promotion, which are the key challenges for sustainable development of tourism.

According to Dimitrijevic, the two-day meeting on tourism as a means of sustainable development in countries in transition was very successful, which can be seen from the fact that the event was attended by more than 300 representatives from more than 20 European countries.

The Minister announced that speeches and presentations of all participants will be published and translated.

WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli said that countries of central and eastern Europe have a higher development rate than Europe's average, in which tourism plays a very important role. He stressed that in the development of a country, not only is the economic aspect of tourism important, but also the cultural, social and environmental aspects as well.

Frangialli stressed that Serbia's opening towards Europe and the world can partly be achieved through tourism, which will help improve Serbia's image in the world, and added that the WTO will continue to assist Serbia in that process.

According to Frangialli, Serbia should make a tourist product both for foreign and domestic visitors and create new jobs in tourism, which will boost revenues from tourism.