The contract for the construction of the international passenger port in Banostor

The Director of the Port Governance Agency, Vuk Perović, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, Uroš Kandić, the president of the municipality of Beočin, Biljana Janković, and the director of the Directorate for Inland Waterways, Aleksandar Pantelić, signed today the Agreement on the regulation of mutual rights and obligations in the implementation of the project for the construction of an international terminal in Banoštor.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, and the President of the Provincial Government, Igor Mirović.

Minister Vesić stated that the construction of the terminal in Banoštor is part of the "Sail through Serbia" project, adding that the construction of another international terminal is particularly significant because we have an increasing number of tourists coming to our country by river, and that last year we had 183,043 tourists who came by cruisers, which is 35 percent more than in 2022.

"The trend will continue because this type of tourism is becoming increasingly popular, and in that sense, we, as a country, must respond by building infrastructure if we want to retain tourists, have them spend time with us, and contribute to our economy," said Vesić.

He mentioned that there are currently 10 international terminals in Serbia, with seven on the Danube and three on the Sava, reminding that last year terminals were opened in Sremska Mitrovica and Šabac on the Sava, as well as in Zemun on the Danube.

"In the coming period, we will open an international passenger terminal in Veliko Gradište near the Ram Fortress, as well as terminals in Sremski Karlovci and Apatin," Vesić said.

He assured that they will continue with the construction of marinas and terminals through the project "Sail through Serbia" because, as he emphasized, rivers are Serbia's chance, and it is time to focus more on the development of this type of tourism.

He emphasized that in the coming period, as part of the "Sail through Serbia" project, several marinas will be built – in Veliko Gradište, Golubac, Smederevo, Kladovo, and Sombor.

Vesić stated that constructing terminals without building complete infrastructure makes no sense, and he added that the international terminal in Banoštor is important because it will allow tourists to visit Fruška Gora, which was possible before but not in this way.

"When we embark on such a project, it means that we need to build local infrastructure that would allow tourists who come here to spend their time to the fullest and see everything we have to show them," said Vesić.

In this regard, he noted that with the construction of this important terminal, valued at around 3.4 million euros, the job is not entirely finished. Roads need to be completed so that tourists can visit primarily Fruška Gora but also the entire region. Furthermore, more investment is required in local tourist attractions.

"The consequence of this will be the development of tourism, more restaurants, and shops where people can make purchases. This just shows how one investment actually leads to new investments and how everything is interconnected," said Vesić, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in this project.

The President of the Provincial Government, Igor Mirović, stated that, thanks to the Serbian government, terminals will be built in Banoštor, Apatin, Sremski Karlovci, and a marina in Sombor, all located within the territory of Vojvodina.

"I believe that, along with other parts of our country, Vojvodina will become much more interesting for tourists who come to our country by cruise ships and private boats," said Mirović.

Uroš Kandić, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, emphasized the importance of signing the contract for the construction of the international terminal in Banoštor, primarily for the implementation of the "Sail through" project, which, as he said, is being successfully implemented together with the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure and the Port Governance Agency.

Furthermore, he emphasized that this project is significant for the development of Fruška Gora, which is currently one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in our country.

Kandić stated that the construction of the international terminal in Banoštor is the most significant project in the Upper Danube region so far, reminding that two marinas are already being built in the Lower Danube region, in Golubac and Veliko Gradište.

Vuk Perović, the Director of the Port Governance Agency, mentioned that the project for the construction of the terminal in Banoštor will include the complete infrastructure of the terminal with embankments, accompanying facilities, and buildings.

"There will be facilities for port operators, customs, police, and the location itself will be developed, including the construction of a digital museum and various contents, all with the aim of attracting as many tourists as possible," said Perović.

Perović emphasized that a 10% increase in the number of passengers is expected in this nautical season, with 200,000 tourists visiting our country from cruise ships. He highlighted that the direct and indirect revenues from cruising this year will amount to around 10 million euros.

Biljana Janković, the president of the municipality of Beočin, stated that this is a significant day for the municipality, emphasizing that the construction of the international terminal in Banoštor is one of the most important capital projects in Beočin that will improve the quality of life for the residents.

"Also, with the construction of this terminal, our municipality will be positioned on the tourist map of the Danube navigation route. At the same time, our country is preparing to host the specialized International Expo 2027, and we see this as an opportunity to present ourselves in the best light," added Janković.