Construction of the airport and the Golden City complex on Zlatibor is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 - There is already interest from private investors in both projects

The construction of the airport, as well as the Golden City complex on Zlatibor, should begin in the second half of next year. These are very serious projects that will require significant financial resources, so after completing the projects and obtaining a building permit, the Municipality of Čajetina will start negotiations about these investments - either with the state or with private partners.

This was stated by the Mayor of the Municipality of Čajetina Milan Stamatović in an interview with eKapija, stating that there is already interest from foreign investors in the implementation of both projects.

- Golden City is located on the shores of Lake Ribnica, and a total area of about 500 hectares has been reserved for its construction. The plan is to install solar panels in the first phase, because a lot of energy will be needed for heating and for the planned facilities - said Stamatović.

The complex is planned to include two golf courses, residential villas, high-class hotels and numerous accompanying facilities.

- We are currently working on a conceptual solution. In fact, we already have a concept of how everything should look and the layout of the locations. Now it is necessary to prepare a special purpose plan, because part of this project is located in the nature park zone. This plan is necessary to create the conditions for us to be able to issue building permits tomorrow - says the President of the Municipality of Čajetina.

Stamatović also addressed the objections that they want to turn Ribničko jezero into commercial facilities and thus endanger the environment and drinking water.

- These objections are absolutely unfounded. We are currently working on an alternative water supply, a 17-kilometer pipeline for Zlatibor and the wider area of the Municipality of Čajetina. When all this is completed, Ribničko jezero can be put into commercial use and water-based facilities can be developed - he says.

As he states, the Golden City represents an avant-garde project and something completely new for Zlatibor, but also for the whole of Serbia.

- The project will be carried out in accordance with modern trends, using natural and new materials. It is particularly important that the architect is from our area and that he understands the needs of this place, as well as what is being done today in modern tourist centers around the world - says Stamatović.

He states that serious work is now ahead on resolving property and legal relations, determining public interest, developing a special purpose plan, completing projects and preparing infrastructure, as well as planning and project documentation.

It is similar, says Stamatović, with the construction of the airport on Zlatibor.

- Preparatory work has already begun there, because thirty years ago, the construction of an airport for small aircraft began, but that was abandoned. Now we have started this investment again, aware that the Ponikve airport will not be fully operational for some time. We don't have time to wait, so we are starting to prepare a study in parallel at the beginning of the year, we also have the project to prepare, but at the same time we are slowly preparing the terrain with the engagement of a public utility company and a contractor for the Zlatibor bypass. So, we have already started preparatory work there - he says.

The airport will cover an area of about 200 hectares. In the first phase of the works, the runway will be about 700 meters long, in the second 1,200, and the final length will be 2.5 kilometers. The first and second phases of the airport should be completed in the next five years, which also includes the construction of the airport building, which will house a duty-free shop, a shopping center, restaurants - all the facilities that an airport should have.

As he said, it is expected that the projects will be completed soon and construction permits will be secured, followed by discussions about investments, either with ministries - if they recognize the importance, or with private partners.

- These are very serious projects. We ourselves do not have enough money, but we have invested significant funds so far and we can be partners or shareholders. Whether the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia will recognize this remains to be seen, but for now there are positive signs. Certainly, there are already interested foreign investors for both projects, both for the airport and for the Golden City - says Stamatović.

When it comes to the values of the projects, the eKapija interlocutor points out that these are large amounts and that everything can be developed in phases.

- In the initial phase of the airport construction, around EUR 50 million would be needed for the project to come to life, and then everything depends on the potential partner and the volume of investment. The Golden City is an even more serious project and will be a city in the full sense when it comes to implementation, but with a completely new and different Zlatibor. Both projects could start in the second half of next year, if there are no obstructions and problems like we had with previous large investments such as the Gondola. I hope everything will go smoothly - said Stamatović, adding that tenders and competitions related to both projects will be announced in the coming period.

Stamatović also addressed the comments that the center of Zlatibor has been developing somewhat haphazardly so far.

- A large part of Zlatibor was previously treated as a rural area in the planning documents and such rules were applied to it. Now we have changed that with the planning documents and this is an urban area, which requires that in the future, as much as possible, what has been damaged be repaired and that those mistakes are not repeated for what is new - concluded Stamatović in an interview with eKapija.