Assistant Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Renata Pindžo has opened early today in Belgrade a business conference “SEET 2016 – South East Europe Tourism”, saying that the Government has recognised tourism as a key promoter of economic development.

She has told to the participants of the conference that tourism, in spite of numerous challenges, has proved to be the most flexible economic sector, stating that in Europe it marked the growth of 4%, and in region even 7%.

“This part of Europe, as insufficiently discovered and attractive, still has potentials in tourism”, says Ms Pindžo stating that tourism contributes to the economic development and is an excellent method for political marketing for the countries.

Speaking of tourism in Serbia, Ms Pindžo has said that Serbia is near to have even better business result in tourism comparing to the last year, saying that in the first seven months this year, Serbia had a growth of 13 per cent when it comes to the visits of tourist and 14 per cent when it comes to the nights they spend in Serbia.

According to her words, if we want to progress we have to work together with the countries in the region.

She has said that Serbia has initiated numerous initiatives when it comes to regional tourism, and that it will work further on the cross-border cooperation, and on the product which refers to the creation of cycle route “Roads of Roman Emperors”, starting from Belgrade through Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, coming back to Belgrade in the end. “Here we see the chance to cooperate”, Ms Pindžo has said.

Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edita Đapo has said that promotion of competition and increase of the number of tourists is important for the European path of the countries in the region, and that we should use the advantages for a joint presentation in foreign market and world fairs.

As she has said, the global developments influence the development of tourism, which brings to many arrangements being cancelled in the countries hit by terrorism.

She has stressed that we should benefit from the satisfactory level of safety in the countries in the region with the aim to improve the touristic offers.

Minister of Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Srpska Predrag Gluhaković has said that there are several great suggestions for the cooperation in the region, and now the question is how to design the product and attract tourists from distant areas such as China and Japan.