FIRST CALL AND ANNOUNCEMENT
Conference on Sustainability of Rural Tourism
“Defining Success of Tomorrow”
22 -24 February 2012
Belgrade and Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia Belgrade Fair
Continental Hotel Belgrade
Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci To succeed in today's fast-paced marketplace, travel and hospitality communicators must steer strategically, yet always be ready to make swift, tactical adjustments. Discover, at the Conference on Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability of Rural Tourism, nimble approaches to make the most of your rural tourism products and destination, while staying on top of changes in the media, market and technology. Join colleagues and success stories in Serbia capital of Belgrade and Mountain Kopaonik at the premier rural tourism event to:
· Strengthen your programs' value with expert insight on where to deploy your resources. · Master the latest tools and tactics to address the issues that matter most. · Discover practical responses to current challenges from leading and globally recognized speaker and industry professionals.
This year's conference features dynamic key note speakers, including:
· Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General · Mr. Nebojsa Ciric, Minister of Economy and Regional Development. Government of Serbia · Mr. William Infante, Serbia UN Resident Coordinator · Mrs. Gordana Plamenac, Serbia NationalTourism Organization CEO · Mr. Gunay Erturgul, Minister of Tourism and Culture. Government of Turkey · Mrs. Petra Hedorfer, European Tourism and Travel Commision, CEO · Mr. Rok Klancnik, Slovenia Tourist Board Brussels CEO - Moderator
Why you should attend Conference on Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability of Rural Tourism · Increase the value of your current rural products with the latest, cost-cutting strategies and findings through MDGF Joint Project “Sustainable tourism for rural development”. · Learn about research on current industry trends and what's on the horizon. · Hear game-changing presentations on topics ranging from the best approach to responding to crises to mobilizing brand advocate consumers. · Connect with leading practitioners, media and thought leaders on the issues that matter most rural tourism issues · Update your social media plan with strategies to help you connect with your target audience and best position your professional services and develop destination. · Take a 360 degree view of the current state of the industry, by networking with a large cross-section of industry and academia colleagues
Organizers: · Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Government of Serbia · MDG-F Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development · Danube Competence Center
Who will attend? · Senior Government Officials · UN representatives · Business Leaders · Rural economies of Serbia · National tourism organization representatives of the region of South East Europe
Conference official language: English 22 February, 2012. Hotel Continental, Belgrade
9.00 – 11.00 Delegate registration
11.00 – 12.00 Opening ceremony Moderator: Rok Klancnik. Slovenia Tourism Board Brussels, Director • Dr Taleb RIfai. UNWTO, Secretary General • Mr William Infante. UN Resident Office Serbia, Coordinator • Mr Nebojsa Ciric. Government of Serbia, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Minister
12.00 – 12.15 Coffee break
12.15 – 13.00 Panel: “Serbia tourism milestones” Moderator: Rok Klancnik. Slovenia Tourism Board Brussels, Director • Michael Jay. Support to the implementation of the National Strategy
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.15 – 15.00 Panel: “Reference to Sustainability in Tourism” Moderator: Rok Klancnik. Slovenia Tourism Board Brussels, Director • Dr. Goran Petkovic. Government of Serbia, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, State Secretary • Gordana Plamenac. Tourism Organization of Serbia, CEO
15.00 – 16.00 Panel: “MDG-F Milestones” Moderator: Karlo Puskarica • UNWTO Speaker representative • UNDP Speaker representative • FAO speaker representative • UNEP Speaker representative • UNICEF Speaker representative
16.00 – 16.30 Coffee break
16.30 – 17.30 World Federation Tour Guides Association Ceremony of the travel guide course for Novi Sad destination: Certificate hand out. • Mrs. Wilja Emile Siebe. World Federation Tour Guides Association, Executive Board Member/Head of Training
20.00 Invitations only dinner at the Royal Palace 23 February, 2012. Belgrade Fair
11.00 – 12.00 Belgrade International Tourism Fair Opening Ceremony Protocol: • Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO. Secretary General • Mr. Nebojsa Ciric, Government of Serbia, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development. Minister • Mrs. Petra Hedorfer. European Tourism and Travel Commission. CEO • Mr. Gunay Erturgul, Government of Turkey, Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Minister
12.00 – 13.00 Protocol visit to the Belgrade International Tourism Fair
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
15.00 Session 1: Product Development and Value Chain Analysis
15.45 Session 2: Marketing and Promotion
16.30 Coffee break
17.00 Session 3: SME Development Capacity Building
17.30 Session 4: Local Economic Development
21.00 Conference Gala Dinner for all Conference delegates at splav Ada (near Hotel Jugoslavija) 24 February, 2012. Sremski Karlovci|Novi Sad|Mali Stapar
Note: Third day of the Conference is Invitations only(Invites: Deans and directors from tourism faculties from SEE and Danube region, MDG-F Sustainable tourism for rural development UN agencies representatives, Media representatives from SEE and Danube region).
9.00 Departure to Sremski Karlovci in front of Hotel Continental
10.00 City Council of Sremski Karlovci (Magistrat) Penel: “Danube Region Sustainable Tourism and Rural Development” Topics: • Exploring the synergies among MDG-F and another running and upcoming projects • The role of the academia in the support of the private business to develop (sustainable) tourism • Next common steps regarding the cultural routes, as well, in the field of rural tourism
12.00 City Council of Sremski Karlovci (Magistrat) - Signing Memorandum of Understanding for Roman Emperors Route between highest tourism officials from Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria
13.00 Lunch at Petrovaradin Fortress at the Salon of President Tito
15.00 Protocol at the University of Novi Sad organized by Rector Professor Miroslav Veskovic
15.45 Lecture of Dr. Rifai at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Science
17.00 Departure to Mali Stapar
18.30 Dinner hosted by President of Vojvodina Government Dr Bojan Pajtic
19.00 Signing Memorandum of Understanding in the field of development cultural water routes in Vojvodina water network and establishment of cross border projects with Croatia, Hungary and Romania in the same field between: • Government of Vojvodina (Dr Bojan Pajtic) • United Nations World Tourism Organization (Dr Taleb Rifai) • University of Novi Sad (Dr Miroslav Veskovic) • Danube Competence Centre (Daniela Schily)
20.00 Dinner
21.30 Departure to Belgrade Conference topics:
Product Development
Marketing and Promotion
SME Development Capacity Building
Value Chain Analysis
Local Economic Development
More on the Conference on Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability of Rural Tourism you can learn from the following web site: www.merr.gov.rs or contact directly office of the State Secretary Mr. Goran Petković, PhD. President of the Organizational Board on the following info details:
Government of Serbia Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 15, Belgrade Mr. Goran Petković, Phd State Secretary Tel: +381 11 2855 071 Fax: +381 11 2855 209 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]