Improving the Management of Environmental Resources by Increasing Occupancy Rate of Spas’ Capacity: A Case Study of Serbia

Abstract

The research presented in this paper indicates one of the options for improving the management of environmental resources by increasing the occupancy rate of capacities in the spas of the Republic of Serbia (RS). It is motivated by the current needs of the tourism industry for ideas that can increase the level of potential utilization of spas in the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the paper is to use research to test a basic hypothesis, that attracting families with small children can increase the occupancy rate of the spas' capacity in the Republic of Serbia. The paper presents table research and field research. Table research was based on official data from the documents of the Republic of Serbia. The field research, presented in the paper, has been carried out on a sample of 122 respondents (parents with small children), that respond in the questionnaire with 20 research questions about the survey topic. The research results confirm that the creation of better conditions for the stay and pleasure of families with small children in the Serbian spas, and their encouragement and motivation, may greatly influence the increase of occupancy rate of the spas' capacity in the Republic of Serbia. This result showed to the authorities and management bodies of the tourism industry and spas in the Republic of Serbia that there is sense to take actions for a massive motivation of families with young children to use the spa throughout the year. The truthfulness of main hypothesis H(0) is confirmed. Furthermore, it has also been shown that, by the creative approach, it is possible to generate and check other ideas for increasing the occupancy rate of spas' capacity.