Assessing the tourist potential of cultural–historical spatial units of Serbia using comparative application of AHP and mathematical method

Abstract

Various socio-historical and cultural influences that have permeated the territory of Serbia have created a specific cultural heritage composed of interesting architecture, spatial and environmental units, folklore, gastronomy, lifestyle, and other specifics, which are usually under protection and are significantly visited by tourists.The value of resources and the state of development determine the overall tourist potential of the area. In this research, two methods were used to assess the tourist potential for six spatial, cultural, and historical units in Serbia: the analytical hierarchical process and the mathematical model, which is based on the du Cros method. The aim of the research is to determine the validity of the obtained results through their comparison and to record the shortcomings. The same indicators and sub-indicators were used in both methodologies, while the weighting coefficients differed according to the methodology. The importance of the research is reflected in the confirmation of the fact that there is a need to develop new methods that would eliminate all the shortcomings and increase the level of objectivity in the assessment of tourism potential.