Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Mr Rasim Ljajić has stated early today on Zlatibor that sport tourism will be in the focus of the Government in the next period and that conditions for proper preparation of sportsmen will be created in several centres in Serbia.

“In order to promote sports tourism, four basketball courts were built in Veliko Gradište, which are worth 15 million dinars and also a hall is being built in the value of 55 million dinars”, Mr Ljajić says.

In Novi Pazar, an athletic camp for the preparations of sportsmen will be built, unique in the region, while Vrnjačka Banja will become the centre for water polo when the completion of the swimming pool takes place.

The Government will finance the construction of another two football courts on Zlatibor, worth 20 million dinars, as stated by Minister Ljajic who was present at the opening of the swimming pool in the children’s resort Golija.

Ministry of Tourism financed the construction of the swimming pool and the expansion of the accommodation capacities with 26 beds with 13 million dinars. The City of Užice has allocated 4.6 million dinars, and the institution of Children’s resort Zlatibor 10.1 million dinars of their own resources.

“Ministry will keep making projects for construction of the tourism infrastructure. The children’s resort Golija plans to build halls and we are sure this project will be supported as well”, Mr Ljajić has said.

During today’s visit, Mr Ljajić has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Youth Culture Centre on Zlatibor.

“Zlatibor is the leader when it comes to mountain tourism, which is visited by a third of the visitors coming to Serbian mountains. The completion of the Youth Culture Centre will enhance the total revenues from tourism and increase the number of visitors coming here. We do our best to make Zlatibor one of the leading centres in the region when it comes to the infrastructure”, Mr Ljajić has pointed out.

Youth Culture Centre on Zlatibor will have around 2.000 square meters of space. The centre itself will include the cinema room, room for theatre plays, a gallery and a library, and one part of the centre will be devoted to the activities of people with disabilities.

The value of the facility is 130 million dinars, out of which the share of the Ministry of Tourism will amount to 40 million dinars. The deadline for the completion of works is September 1, 2017.