HOLIDAY IN A DIFFERENT WAY
Rural tourism is the hidden potential of our country, and resources are in abundance. For potential tourists, going to the countryside is a search for an active vacation, authentic specialties prepared in the traditional way, organic food or opportunities for rehabilitation and relaxation.
About a hundred years ago, only wealthier people in the cities could afford to spend their vacation at sea and in the mountains, so the usual destination was the village and relatives. Today, when many city children have never seen live horses, cows or pigs, rural tourism has become even a fashionable phenomenon, but which is a great way to combine staying in nature, active or passive vacation and learning about the culture and traditions of a region.
In previous years, whether we wanted to or not, we could not travel outside the borders of our country, but we could travel inside them, as most Serbs did. Serbian local tourism shone in full glory and only during April and May 2020, rural tourism increased by 40% compared to the same period in 2019.
Rural tourism usually represents the second or third vacation during the year (after summer and winter). The main seasons are spring and autumn, while significant turnover is achieved in the summer months as well. The primary motives for tourists to come to the village are nature and cultural heritage, as well as gastronomy, activities, special interests (picking herbs, hiking, wine tours, education, research, tasting traditional dishes).
Serbia is rich in households engaged in rural tourism, Šumadija, Vojvodina, Western Serbia… wherever you go – you can’t go wrong. You are always greeted by kind and smiling hosts in the traditional Serbian way – with brandy and bread or sweet. If there are any cultural sights or tourist destinations near the rural household in which you are located, be sure that the owners will instruct you how and in what way you can visit other localities in the area. During the period of stay in the facilities of this purpose, you will enjoy trying all Serbian delicacies, both salty and sweet. That is one of the characteristics of this type of tourism, domestic, healthy and yet delicious food. Children will enjoy you without a phone because it is often a weak signal, so they will spend the most beautiful days in nature, with animals and in the fresh air.
This type of tourist trip usually lasts a few days. Just as much as you need to “recharge your batteries” and return to regular activities. Be sure of one thing – in any rural household (log cabin, house, bungalow) you will enjoy and rest to the maximum during those few days.
Given that 2020 has brought prosperity to rural tourism, it is believed that this trend of increasing visits will continue in the coming years. You can find a large number of households on sites like “Booking”, but it is still best to go on a tour and look for houses on your own, depending on what you want to visit.
