Cruising along the river Danube: Contemporary tourism trend in Serbia

Abstract

The subject of this paper are international cruises along the Pan-European Corridor VII (Danube Waterway). We tried to identify the structural properties of cruises along the Corridor VII, determine the scope and dynamics of cruises along the Corridor VII, define the problems and point to perspectives of cruises along the Corridor VII in Serbia. The research presented in this paper suggests that adequate valorization of the Danube along its entire naviga­ble stream is a 'quick win' option for Serbia's tourism. The related research, also, suggests positive effects that the cruises have upon the economic and socio-cultural development of Serbia. In order for cruises along the Corridor VII to provide prosperity in the forthcoming period, it is necessary that this form of tourism be integrated into plans of tourism development of the entire Corridor VII and Serbia as a whole. Without adequate plans, the recon­struction of the existing and new infrastructure and increase in service quality, it is reasonable to expect a decline in the competitiveness of the Serbia's supply at the cruise market. The basic methods used while obtaining and processing data and analyzing the results are: field research, histor­ical method, statistical procession, quantitative and qualitative content analyses, comparative method (Bench­mark analysis etc.). A particular significance was given to the PESTEL analysis.