THE 56TH INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR HAS BEGUN - "Tourism is not an obligation but enjoyment"

- Do not let tourism ever be an obligation for you, because tourism is enjoyment, tastes and smells, what takes you back to your childhood or sends you to the future, tourism enriches us - said the Provincial Secretary for Economy and Tourism, Dr. Nenad Ivanišević, at the opening of the 56th International Tourism Fair, which will last until Saturday.

"When we thought a few years ago to separate this fair from Lorist, there were many elements for and against, but we still decided to make it a separate event from 2022 and we are witnessing that it was a good decision because we now have the second largest event dedicated to tourism in the entire region. The Provincial Secretariat has no dilemma as to whom to support – because it is certainly the Novi Sad Fair, with whom to cooperate but with the City of Novi Sad and the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina, the Radio Television of Vojvodina, but also with all municipalities and cities on the territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It is also a confirmation that in the past five years alone, through various projects, we have invested almost 10 billion dinars in tourism.

This year's Tourism Fair brings together more than 250 exhibitors from ten countries: Serbia, North Macedonia, which is a partner country, Montenegro, Romania, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia and Russia. Thus, during the three days, representatives of agencies, organizations, institutions, associations, tour operators, hotels, spas, insurance companies and many others are present in the "Master" Hall.

The joint commitment to improving bilateral relations through tourism diplomacy was confirmed by Serbia and North Macedonia, the partner country of the Tourism Fair, at which the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Zoran Ljutkov, addressed.

"As of this year, the ministry has been transformed into the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which means that our country has decided to invest much more in tourism, realizing that cultural tourism is what brings a huge economic benefit for a small country such as the Republic of North Macedonia," said Ljutkov. "More than two million Serbian tourists pass through North Macedonia on their way to Greece, and our desire is to keep those who are in transit in our country, and that is why the first task in 2026 for us will be a new application with all the necessary information important for tourists," Ljutkov added.

Novi Sad is a city with an open heart, which is confirmed by the statistics for the first three quarters, which indicate that the city was visited by more than 150,000 tourists from 170 countries, making 400,000 overnight stays.

"Tourism is one of the pillars of the development of our city, and these figures confirm that Novi Sad is highly positioned on the tourist map of Europe," said the Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin. "I would also like to point out an important infrastructure project - the high-speed railway to Subotica, which is the lifeblood of the country's development because the fast connection with other cities attracts more visitors. From the spring, we will be connected to Budapest, and this will, in fact, be a direct connection to Vienna. Novi Sad remains committed to the development of tourism as one of the pillars of the economy, recognizing its potential for long-term growth and improvement of the lives of all citizens. I believe that we will come out of these meetings richer in ideas, stronger in partnerships and more prepared for all the challenges and opportunities that await us, said Mićin.

Mićin also reminded of the importance of Fruška Gora as a tourist destination with ecological, cultural, religious and recreational content, as well as that we should not forget the titles that Novi Sad carries - European Youth Capital and European Capital of Culture, as well as that next year it will be the European City of Sports, and it has received great international recognition as a city of wetlands. It's going to be an accent, he said.

The Novi Sad Fair hosts numerous events throughout the year, and among them is the 56th International Tourism Fair, which this year covers 6,000 square meters in the "Master" Hall.  

- We have prepared an exceptional fair with 250 exhibitors from ten countries around the world, and the emphasis is also on the partner country, North Macedonia, a country that I am sure will be the final destination for many tourists from our country who pass through this country on their way to Greece - said the General Manager of the Novi Sad Fair, Slobodan Cvetković, MSc.

The fair runs until Saturday, November 29. There is no entrance fee, working hours, today and tomorrow are from 10 am to 7 pm, and on Saturday they will be from 10 am to 5 pm.

Strauss on his first tour.

"In the year that marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss the Younger, it is important to point out that our city has a special connection with this composer. 178 years ago, Strauss gave two concerts on his first international tour in Novi Sad. It is also believed that he stayed in the castle in Futog, on the site of which is now the Agricultural School, where the idea for the work "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" was born. I will take the initiative to create a permanent memorial that will preserve the memory of these historic moments. This will be something new in the tourist offer of our city. We are proud that this part of the European cultural heritage is also related to our city, and this represents a strong potential for new programs, festivals and cultural events – said Mićin.