Beginning of the project "Local Development of Eastern Serbia", in cooperation with UNDP

Representatives of the Port Governance Agency met with representatives of UNDP and on that occasion they agreed on steps for the realization of the first phase of the project "Local Development of Eastern Serbia through increased tourism revenues."

The aim of the project is to promote tourism in Eastern Serbia, but also to simultaneously develop water transport on inland waterways through the development of the cruise. Also, the aim of the project is to improve the local traffic.

It is anticipated that the Danube connects Belgrade and six cities and municipalities in eastern Serbia - Smederevo, Kostolac, Veliko Gradiste, Golubac, Donji Milanovac and Kladovo. In this way it creates a unique tourist and educational offer from six cultural monuments, so this project can be freely named ’’Danube museum’’.

Director of the Agency reminded the data indicating an increase in passengers and ships in the previous period- 958 landing and 119000 use of the coast, and it is estimated that about 85,000 tourists visited Serbia by boat. He added that indicators of the growth trend in passenger water transport point to the necessity of the development of port infrastructure in Serbia. According to him, the Agency estimates that during 2017 will be able to talk about a thousandth landing of passenger ships.

At the meeting was said that this project is of great significance, since it contributes to the development of tourism and economy. It was agreed that in the future form a team composed of representatives of relevant organizations, local governments and ministries to tour the sites covered by the project.

Representatives of the Agency and UNDP have agreed that the team until the end of April held meetings with all local participants and local government included in the project. The task of the team is to locally present the importance of the project, motivate potential stakeholders and provide all necessary support to successfully realize all set goals, it was concluded at the meeting.