Assessing the tourist potential of cultural–historical spatial units of Serbia using comparative application of AHP and mathematical method

Abstract

Various socio-historical and cultural influences that have permeated the territory of Serbia have created a specific cultural heritage composed of interesting architecture, spatial and environmental units, folklore, gastronomy, lifestyle, and other specifics, which are usually under protection and are significantly visited by tourists. The value of resources and the state of development determine the overall tourist potential of the area. In this research, two methods were used to assess the tourist potential for six spatial, cultural, and historical units in Serbia: the analytical hierarchical process and the mathematical model, which is based on the du Cros method. The aim of the research is to determine the validity of the obtained results through their comparison and to record the shortcomings. The same indicators and sub-indicators were used in both methodologies, while the weighting coefficients differed according to the methodology. The importance of the research is reflected in the confirmation of the fact that there is a need to develop new methods that would eliminate all the shortcomings and increase the level of objectivity in the assessment of tourism potential.

Transformation of Abandoned Railways into Tourist Itineraries/Routes: Model of Revitalization of Marginal Rural Areas

“…Prokuplje is categorized as an underdeveloped local self-government, while the municipalities of Kuršumlija and Žitora da are classified as extremely underdeveloped and devastated. Historically, the railway served as a vital strategic link, connecting Kosovo and Metohija (KaM) with the Pan-European Corridor X and facilitating the connection of two regional centers, Priština and Niš [63]. However, during the 1999 war in KaM, the "Merdare" tunnel, crucial for connecting Toplica District with the area of KaM, was disabled and has not been restored since.…”

“…Since its initial construction, the railway has not undergone reconstruction; only ongoing maintenance has been carried out. The maximum permitted speed is 60 km/h [63].…”

“…However, there is currently no scientifically based model specifically tailored for the tourist valorization of abandoned railways. The proposed model is theoretically and methodologically a modified and enhanced version of the method utilized by researchers such as Božić and Berić [65], Božić and Tomić [66], Antić [67], Tomić and Božić [68], Božić and Tomić [69], Yan et al [70], Ristić et al [71,72], Petrović et al [73], Tomić and Košić [74], Sanchez Rivero et al [75], and Vukoičić et al [76] in their studies on tourism evaluation. All sub-indicators were subsequently prioritized and assessed for importance by the author and geoexperts, primarily consisting of spatial planners, tourismologists, and geographers, in order to preserve the objectivity and credibility of the answers.…”