“Let me go to Greece, at least for five days” – 2024 Retrospective, investments in TOURISM, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION

Considering that, according to some data from last year, about a million Serbs spend their summers in Greece, it did not surprise us that the first on the list of eKapija's most read articles in the field of tourism is dedicated to this country, or rather one of the capitals of medieval Serbia - but in Greece. Whether it is because of pride in that period of our history or the financial reach of the average Serbian traveler, this article had almost 100,000 views and triggered several hundred comments on social networks, with almost 500 shares. As the popular TV character Surda would say: “Let me go to Greece, at least for five days...”

You were also interested in articles about our suggestions for field trips, ideas for an active day in nature, lesser-known tourist attractions, spas, but since the focus of eKapija’s retrospective is on investments, on this occasion we will present to you what investments in tourism interested you the most.

The truth is, given the prices, and the latest statistics on where our people are vacationing, it’s not like most Serbs will be able to afford to stay in these, mostly future tourist facilities/investments in our country. Namely, the latest data published around the New Year say that the number of domestic tourists in our country has decreased compared to the year before, especially in spas - by as much as 10%, but foreign tourists are growing - by 12%. Also, in mountain resorts there are 35% more foreign tourists, and only 4% more domestic tourists compared to 2023.

And in spas, on the mountains, as well as in cities, tourist facilities that you really liked to read about in 2024 are being planned or are already being built. Or at least you looked longingly at their renderings. Here are the facilities that attracted the most of your attention.

1. At Novak's – so let it be in a gondola

The most talked-about investment in the field of tourism is certainly the future Novak Djokovic gondola, which will transport tourists from Vrnjacka Banja to Goc, and which is estimated to cost around EUR 60 million. As announced, it will be built by the Municipality, the Government and the family of Novak Djokovic.

The gondola with 108 cabins will be 7 km long, and the route is also planned to include a restaurant, a gift shop, bobsleigh on rails and a zipline. Initially, it will transport 1,200 visitors per hour, and its final capacity is 2,400 visitors. In addition to connecting two important tourist destinations, Vrnjacka Banja and Goc, in both winter and summer, it will also be used for sports purposes, given that its final station will be a ski resort.

The starting station in Vrnjacka Banja is planned to include a ski equipment depot, ski storage, and a facility for renting bicycles and electric scooters. A coffee bar with a service kitchen is planned to be built at the Lipova intermediate station, and according to this project, there will also be a restaurant with several rest areas at the exit station.

2. Pizza at Jamie Oliver's

In addition to the fact that we like to watch his culinary creations on the small screen, it turns out that we would also like to try some of the world-famous chef’s specialties at his restaurant - here. This is what you could conclude from the number of clicks you showered on the announcement of the construction of the first Serbian restaurant from the Jamie Oliver chain – “Jamie's Italian,” in Belgrade Waterfront.

The 400 m2 restaurant, with a 250 m2 balcony, has since opened in March last year in Hercegovacka Street in Belgrade Waterfront, but you have not sent us any comments with your impressions so far. So here is an opportunity to remind you.

3. Let it be glamorous, even if it’s under a tent

Judging by the next most read text in the field of tourism investments, it seems that we love glamour, so let it be related to camping. So, the story about plans for the development of glamping on the Goc mountain is next on your list of interests.

Judging by the most read article, and then also this one on our list, Vrnjacka Banja and its surroundings are certainly attracting the attention of our tourists, although statistics show that the spa has recorded a drop in the number of domestic tourists compared to last year by as much as 14%. Obviously, there is interest, but the prices seem to be more adapted to foreign tourists, who are increasingly numerous in our mountains and spas. But at least glamping remains, which, according to the announcements of the president of the Municipality of Vrnjacka Banja, is now being developed on Goc, with the construction of adventure parks, walking trails, sports fields, health trails...

4. Aquariums for smaller fish…

Everything that is happening in the capital of Serbia concerning investments inevitably draws your attention the most, including the announcement of the construction of a big aquarium in Usce. It is one of the new features envisaged in the plan for the development of the Friendship Park-Usce, and in addition to the aquarium, this space should also feature a new skate-park, the 21st Century Art Museum, as well as the first own building of the Natural History Museum.

The aquarium building will spread on 5,000 m2 and be located between the Palace of Serbia and the Great War Island, and the aquarium will be in its extension in the direction toward Zemun.

The plan is for the new museum building and the aquarium to be underground, except that their facades, facing the Great War Island, will be open, that is, made of glass. The preliminary design and the further development of the aquarium envisage a facility on two levels.

5. …and the biggest aqua park for big “fish”

The next most read investment in tourism is also water-related, but is not meant for small, aquarium fish and other sea creatures. And it’s not going to be small quantities of water, but, as announced, the biggest aqua park in Serbia, with a luxury hotel, a wellness and spa center, apartment bed-and-breakfast facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, football fields with artificial and natural grass, two basketball, volleyball and tennis courts each, courts for beach volleyball and mini putt, a gym, an outdoor children’s park and playrooms inside a facility, an auto camp, a summer stage and a parking lot.

This is the tourist complex Panonske Terme near Indjija, which will spread on a parcel of 59,033 m2, and phase-based construction is planned. In the first phase, the construction of an aqua park with indoor and outdoor pools is planned, whereas the second phase will encompass the construction of a hotel with a spa center. The total gross developed area of the complex, including the underground level, will amount to 17,744.70 m2.

The pools will be available to both hotel guests and daily visitors. The external pools include a relaxation pool with a bar (242.91 m2), a relaxation pool with hot water and access from an indoor pool (100.99 m2), as well as two hot-tubs (19.63 m2). The indoor pools encompass a swimming pool, a relaxation pool, a children’s pool, a pool for entertainment with artificial waves, a pool with waterslides and a hot-tub.

The hotel will belong to a four-star category, with a total of 79 accommodation units: five single-room beds, 70 two-bed rooms, three apartments and one presidential apartment.

6. Let’s go to the mountains…

Although some, also popular articles that have already been highlighted in some of our other retrospectives say that, due to the lack of real snow, skiing in Serbia might end, unless some investments on tall mountains, for example, Golija, are implemented, mountains obviously interest you. At least in the summer. Therefore, a high number of hits was recorded when it comes to the article about the future apartment hotel on Kopaonik, to be built in the location of the hotel complex Olga Dedijer.

The future hotel is planned to have 206 apartments. Garages with a total of 187 parking spaces are planned on four underground levels, and the total gross developed floor area of the future hotel is 25,638.92 m2.

7. Some more glamping…

Another part of our gorgeous country has seen an opportunity for the development of glamping tourism, and that news also drew a lot of attention from you. This is the announce construction of the glamping settlement Modern Village (Savremeno selo) on the Maljen Mountain. As announced, this settlement site will feature a space for tents and trailers, a campfire, barrel showering and self-grown food, but also a spa center, modern cottages and a restaurant. The complex is planned in the area of the village of Ljutice, on around 8 hectares.

The modern village will also have a reception area, a gift shop, a camp for around 20 trailers and a camp for around 20 tents, a restaurant with around 150 seats, a spa center (an indoor pool, a sauna, a gym and so one), around 25 accommodation units of various types with saunas (for 6 to 8 persons), an outdoor sports court for volleyball, basketball and futsal, a children’s playground, yoga platforms and spaces for picnics and gatherings around a campfire. However, don’t be tricked into thinking that, because it’s camping, it’s affordable – the prices in some glamping centers are higher than those in luxury hotels.

8. Visitor Center in Arandjelovac

Among several investments that marked the end of the year was the announcement of the construction of a visitor center in Arandjelovac, for which the money was partly provided within the framework of the European Union's local development program, EU PRO plus, and in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration. Namely, within the framework of this program, the Regional Agency for Economic Development of Sumadija and Pomoravlje was allocated just over EUR 1 million. Part of these funds was also allocated to the Municipality of Arandjelovac, for the National Museum's project to build a Visitor and Education Center on the site of the Risovaca Natural Monument. The National Museum announced that the construction of this facility, which will house an exhibition space and additional facilities for visitors, will significantly improve the cultural and tourist offer of both the institution itself and the Municipality.

9. Hotel Jugoslavija gone, Ritz to be raised

No matter how hard the citizens gathered in the Odbranimo Jugu association tried to prevent the demolition of one of Belgrade’s symbols – the Hotel Jugoslavija, through protests, it is now already a thing of the past, and according to our statistics, you have certainly been interested in what exactly is to be raised in its place. The initial announcement was that the plan was to build a multifunctional complex with office spaces, commercial activities and residence (410 apartments), underground garages, a square with fountains, as well as a luxury hotel with restaurants, business meeting rooms, conference halls, a playroom for children, a gym, a spa center, a hair and cosmetics salon, a pool, branded stores, gardens and balconies.

The hotel was initially announced as a luxury hotel with 5 stars with a capacity of around 200 people, and then, at the end of November, it was revealed that, in the location of the Hotel Jugoslavija, in 2027, Ritz-Carlton will open, with 190 rooms, two towers, an office tower with 34 floors, a residential tower with 42 floors and a marina on the Danube. This investment, as the media reported, is worth close to half a billion euros.

10. If it’s a Tower, make it Trump’s

And then another hotel-residential complex, also with two towers, was brought into public focus, and it is still being written about in the media. To clarify, much before the Government of Serbia adopted the decision to delete the General Staff building from the register of cultural goods, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, shared, in March, rendered images of the project of the luxury complex which is planned in the location of the General Staff building in Belgrade on his X and Facebook profiles.

– Excited to share some early design images for development projects we have been creating for the Albanian coast and downtown Belgrade – Kushner wrote at the time.

These days, there are media reports that the Republic Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments refuses to delete the General Staff complex from the Central Register of Immoveable Cultural Goods of Serbia, and other media report that the future complex has already been named Trump Tower.

Back in June, Kushner presented the project of the hotel which is supposed to be built in the location of the General Staff building to the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade.

As The New York Times wrote, Jared Kushner’s company will lease the space of the bombed General Staff building in Belgrade for 99 years without a compensation and build a luxury hotel and apartment complex, as well as a memorial site and a museum in that location. The investment, as said, is worth USD 500 million, and according to the proposed agreement, Serbia should get 22% of the profit.

Opština Vrnjačka Banja

Zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture Grada Beograda

Filozofski fakultet u Beogradu

Arhitektonski fakultet Beograd

Univerzitet u Beogradu

Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja

City Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments

Faculty of Philosophy

Faculty of Architecture

University of Belgrade

Jamies Italian restaurant

Panonske terme

hotel Olga Dedijer

Goč

Modern Village Maljen

Visitors center Aranđelovac

hotel Jugoslavija

hotel Ritz Carlton

General Staff building

Trump Tower

gondola Novak Đoković

Jamie Oliver

Jared Kushner

Donald Trump

Aleksandar Vučić

glamping

aquarium in Ušće

biggest aqua park

investments

tourism

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