Ljiljana Mihajlović

Gastronomy provides an experiential connection between tourism and living cultural heritage through traditional food practices, cultural discovery, authenticity, and sensory engagement. This study examines the associations among Gastronomic Motivation and Cultural Discovery (GMCD), Authenticity and Sensory Attributes (ASAs), Gastronomic Satisfaction (GS), and Loyalty-Related Behavioral Intentions (LBIs) in Serbia. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured bilingual questionnaire and a non-probability sample of 138 respondents. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, regression, and bootstrap mediation analysis were employed. GMCD was positively associated with ASAs (β = 0.674), which was strongly associated with GS (β = 0.756). Both ASAs and GS remained significant predictors of LBIs in a multiple regression model (R² = 0.468). The mediation analyses identified positive indirect associations for ASAs → GS → LBIs (β = 0.258) and GMCD → ASAs → GS → LBIs (β = 0.119). Heritage-oriented indicators were positively correlated with satisfaction (r = 0.680) and behavioral intentions (r = 0.585). However, confirmatory factor analysis indicated inadequate measurement-model fit (CFI = 0.790; RMSEA = 0.119), with additional concerns regarding discriminant validity. These findings suggest that cultural discovery, perceived authenticity, and sensory attributes are closely related to gastronomic satisfaction and behavioral intentions among the surveyed respondents. By examining these relationships within a single heritage-oriented framework, the study complements previous research on gastronomic motivation, experience evaluations, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions and provides exploratory evidence from the Serbian context. Nevertheless, the non-probability sample, limited measurement validity, and cross-sectional design restrict the generalizability and interpretation of the findings.

Tourism-related local development not only depends on economic resources, but also on stakeholder relationships and governance conditions. This study examines the associations among Social Connectivity Policy (SCP), Social Distance Reduction Attitudes (SDRA), and Perceived Tourism-Related Local Development (PTRLD) in Kuršumlija, Serbia. A questionnaire survey conducted between August and November 2024 included 151 respondents, predominantly tourists, alongside accommodation providers and tourism-related businesses. Correlation, regression, and exploratory bootstrap analyses were applied. In the full sample, SCP was positively associated with both SDRA and PTRLD. After accounting for SCP, SDRA remained positively associated with PTRLD, whereas the conditional SCP–PTRLD association was not statistically significant. The bootstrap analysis identified a statistically significant indirect association through SDRA. Within the supply-side subgroup, the SCP–SDRA association remained statistically significant, whereas the associations involving PTRLD did not achieve statistical significance in the corresponding regression models. These findings highlight the importance of relational attitudes in understanding perceptions of tourism-related local development. However, the small supply-side subgroup, the predominance of tourists in the full sample, and the cross-sectional design limit generalisability and preclude causal interpretation.

Lakes represent valuable natural resources with significant potential for sustainable tourism development. Their tourism valorization requires a comprehensive assessment framework that integrates environmental, infrastructural, socio-economic, and governance dimensions. This study applies the Fuzzy TOPSIS method to evaluate the sustainable tourism potential of ten selected lakes in Serbia. A multi-criteria framework was developed based on ten indicators, including water quality, tourism pressure and carrying capacity, biodiversity, environmental conservation, tourism infrastructure, accessibility, economic effects, and community involvement. Expert evaluations, supported by available evidence, were transformed into triangular fuzzy numbers in order to account for uncertainty and subjectivity in the assessment process. The Fuzzy TOPSIS model was used to calculate the relative closeness of each lake to the ideal solution for sustainable tourism valorization. The results reveal significant differences among the analyzed lakes. Lake Đerdap achieved the highest ranking (Ci = 0.818), followed by Lake Zaovine (Ci = 0.723), Lake Perućac (Ci = 0.644), and Lake Vlasina (Ci = 0.640), reflecting their favorable overall performance across the selected environmental, infrastructural, accessibility, and tourism-related criteria. Lower-ranked lakes were characterized by infrastructural limitations and less favorable performance in selected tourism-related criteria. The study illustrates the applicability of the Fuzzy TOPSIS approach for sustainable tourism evaluation and provides a practical framework for tourism planning, destination management, and policy-making aimed at supporting sustainable lake tourism development in Serbia.

Mountain tourism destinations are increasingly challenged by climate change, environmental degradation, and the need to balance economic development with the long-term conservation of natural resources. This study evaluates alternative pathways for the sustainable development of mountain tourism in Central Serbia by applying an integrated multi-criteria decision-making framework that combines conventional and fuzzy approaches to account for uncertainty in expert judgments. A set of economic, environmental, social, developmental, and governance-related criteria was used to assess different tourism development models and identify those with the greatest potential to support long-term sustainability. The findings indicate that development strategies emphasizing climate adaptation, environmental protection, tourism diversification, and active participation of local communities provide the most promising basis for sustainable mountain tourism development. The study also highlights the importance of diversifying tourism products beyond winter-based activities through nature-based forms of tourism, including geotourism, which builds upon the region’s rich geoheritage, geomorphological diversity, and cultural landscapes while strengthening destination resilience to climate change. The proposed evaluation framework provides a practical decision-support tool that can be adapted to other mountain regions facing similar environmental and developmental challenges.

Agricultural land represents a fundamental production resource and one of the key factors of ecological and economic stability in rural and peri-urban areas. In the municipality of Grocka, the impacts of urbanization, demographic decline, and changes in the agrarian production structure have led to spatial degradation and reduced economic sustainability. To assess the current state and potential of agriculture at the settlement level, a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was applied. The analysis encompassed demographic, production, environmental, and spatial indicators, normalized using the min–max scaling method and aggregated through a weighted sum. Criteria weights were defined based on a combination of literature review and expert judgment. The results reveal spatial variations in the level of sustainability and enable the identification of priority zones for agro-economic improvement, areas of moderate stability, and spaces suitable for developing sustainable agricultural models. Sensitivity testing (±20% variation in weights) confirmed the robustness of the results. The identified zones and proposed measures aim to revitalize degraded areas, preserve permanent crops, and strengthen production and institutional capacities. The applied methodological framework can serve as a tool for planning and policymaking in sustainable agricultural development, particularly in peri-urban contexts.

Socio-economic changes in Serbia over recent decades have influenced the functioning and spatial organization of rural settlements. Processes of transition, deagrarianization, and demographic change have led to the transformation of rural functions, changes in land use, and the reconfiguration of relationships with natural resources. These processes exhibit pronounced spatial differentiation, resulting in diverse development trajectories of peripheral and peri-urban rural areas. Despite this, public policies during the transition period have been primarily focused on institutional aspects of development, while functional transformations have remained insufficiently integrated into long-term concepts of sustainable rural development. The aim of this paper is to identify the main directions of functional transformation of rural settlements in Serbia and to highlight their spatial, social, and environmental implications. The analysis is based on relevant theoretical approaches and previous research, with a particular focus on functional diversification, rational spatial use, and the integration of environmental criteria into rural development planning, while also considering possibilities for improving spatial planning approaches and formulating policies oriented toward the long-term sustainable development of rural areas in Serbia.

Peri-urban zones are characterized by intensive spatial and functional transformations driven by the interplay of urban expansion, agricultural restructuring, and landscape change. As part of Belgrade’s peri-urban belt, the Municipality of Grocka has undergone pronounced land-cover transformations, particularly along major transport corridors and in settlements with strong functional links to the metropolitan core. This study analyzes land-cover change in 1990-2018 using CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data and GIS-based spatial analysis, with emphasis on agricultural-to-built-up conversions and structural shifts within agricultural categories. The results indicate a decline of cultivated land and complex cultivation mosaics, alongside a continuous increase in residential and industrial/commercial land, reflecting sustained peri-urbanization pressures. To capture post-2018 spatial patterns, the long-term CLC assessment is complemented by a Sentinel-2-based 10 m land cover dataset (Esri / Impact Observatory), derived from Copernicus imagery for 2018 and 2024, used strictly as a supplementary snapshot of recent dynamics and internal heterogeneity rather than as a direct extension of the CLC time series. The findings highlight the complexity of peri-urban land-cover transformations and underscore the need for integrated spatial planning and agricultural land protection measures that balance development pressures with the preservation of productive land and landscape functions.

This study applies a quantitative model to assess natural resources and degradation risks in mountain ecosystems, focusing on ecotourism’s role in balancing economic growth and environmental preservation in Golija Nature Park. Results show moderate tourism potential and low degradation risk, affirming ecotourism’s feasibility under sustainable management. The integration of natural assets, cultural heritage, and rural communities highlights ecotourism’s capacity to strengthen local economies, support demographic revitalization, and enhance biodiversity conservation in mountainous regions. The proposed approach offers a practical model for sustainable planning and management of natural areas in a broader international context.

Spatial-functional changes are significantly influenced by transport infrastructure as a key factor in integrating mountainous areas into contemporary development processes and sustainability frameworks. This study presents an analysis of the impact of the road network on the transformation of these predominantly rural areas, with a focus on their connectivity to urban and tourist centers, as well as their role in adapting to social and environmental challenges. Special attention is given to the maintenance of roads under extreme climatic conditions (snowfall, rain, low air temperatures, ice, fog), occurrences of landslides, rockfalls, and other hazards. Multi-criteria analyses indicate potential approaches that can enhance the resilience and functionality of infrastructure within the objectives of sustainable development. The research findings highlight a direct correlation between the development of the transport network and changes in population mobility, access to public services, and economic activities in rural areas. The recommendations include strategies for long-term infrastructure management, considering the specific characteristics of mountainous regions.

Changes in the environment and the socio-economic structure of the mountainous areas of Western Serbia reflect the complex dynamics of geospatial transformation. Rural regions are simultaneously influenced by ecological changes, depopulation, and a shift toward non-agricultural economic activities. Traditional land use patterns are changing, with a reduction in agricultural and pasture areas, while the expansion of urban, tourism, and recreational zones indicates emerging development trends. The process of rural transformation is unfolding as a result of both global and local factors that impact the economic structure, lifestyles, and the use of natural resources. Due to population decline and migration flows, the spatial distribution of settlements exhibits marked heterogeneity, reflecting diverse demographic and functional dynamics - ranging from settlements with relative demographic stability and sustainable economic activities to those affected by depopulation, infrastructure degradation, and marginalization within the regional settlement network. Land use change was analyzed using the CORINE Land Cover database, revealing that in recent decades opposing trends have been present - while some areas are undergoing intensive urbanization and infrastructure expansion, others are experiencing natural forest regeneration and restoration of natural ecosystems. The analysis of these processes enables a deeper understanding of the interconnections within the environment-population system. The future development of the mountainous areas of Western Serbia requires a holistic approach that integrates demographic, economic, and ecological factors for sustainable spatial planning.