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Serbian spas, with their abundant geothermal springs and air qualities, are a significant natural resource for the country. Nowadays, tourism industry has become a predominant beneficiary attracting both leisure- and health-related visits. Nonetheless, the literature on current consumer behavior is devoid of a model that incorporates both motivating and constraining factors in the spa and wellness industry's decision-making process. Serbia's spa industry is still adjusting to the needs of the modern wellness visitor as a result of the country's unique transitional path. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the role of incentive and restrictions in the destination selection process of spa visitors in Serbia, to gain insight into the development of wellness tourism in a particular sociocultural environment. The analytical hierarchy process was used to determine the relative relevance of the consumer behavior elements evaluated. The findings indicate that non-medical motivations are becoming more important, implying that demand is finally shifting toward the wellness idea, which was initially disrupted by the country's delayed transformation. The findings have administrative ramifications, the most significant of which were price strategies and product diversification. © 2022 Marija Belij Radin et al., published by De Gruyter.

Romania is one of the countries severely affected by numerous natural hazards, where landslides constitute a very common geomorphic hazard with strong economic and social impacts. The analyzed area, known as the "Ciuperca Hill", is located in Oradea (NW part of Romania) and it has experienced a number of landsliding events in previous years, which have endangered anthropogenic systems. Our investigation, focused on the main causal factors, determined that landslide events have rather complex components, reflected in the joint climatological characteristics, properties of the geological substrate, and human activity that further contributed to the intensive change of landscape and acceleration of slope instability. Analysis of daily precipitation displays the occurrence and intensive distribution between May and September. Higher values of rainfall erosivity (observed for the 2014-2017 period), are occurring between April and August. Erosivity density follows this pattern and indicates high intensity events from April until October. SPI index reveals the greater presence of various wet classes during the investigated period. Geological substrate has been found to be highly susceptible to erosion and landsliding when climatological conditions are suitable. Accelerated urbanization and reduced vegetation cover intensified slope instability. The authors implemented adequate remote-sensing techniques in order to monitor and assess the temporal changes in landslide events at local level. Potential solutions for preventative actions are given in order to introduce and conduct qualitative mitigation strategies for shaping sustainable urban environments. Results from this study could have implications for mitigation strategies at national, regional, county, and municipality levels, providing knowledge for the enhancement of geohazard prevention and appropriate response plans.

The Fruška Gora Mt., as a dominant orographic complex in the Pannonian plain, was selected for a pioneer geodiversity quantification study area due to its unique geology and soil properties. The methodology is based on the geodiversity quantification assessment approach of Serrano and Ruiz-Flaño (Geogr Helv 62:140–147, 2007). It employed a 500 × 500 m grid approach on several maps (lithological, geomorphological, topographical, and pedological) at scales of 1:50.000 to 1:300.000, together with a 30-m resolution digital elevation model for deriving sub-indices and a topographic roughness. The geodiversity index values (Gd) indicate that the highest geodiversity sites are found on the north, north-east and south-western part of the investigated mountain: in steep-sided valleys, along the horst and loess cliffs facing the Danube River. The obtained results are compared with the already recognized in situ geosite location network. This approach can be applied in the given area for geoheritage protection, conservation, and promotion at different levels (from local to national level). Following the results of this study, the criteria for the definition of conservation areas with abiotic significance should be considered, as there is no legal protection of any kind for the areas with the highest geodiversity index values outside the National Park area. Also, it is a potentially effective tool for supporting decision-making processes regarding the management and conservation of natural areas or regions at different scales with further possible applications in Serbia and elsewhere in Europe.

Romania is one of the countries severely affected by numerous natural hazards, where landslides constitute a very common geomorphic hazard with strong economic and social impacts. The analyzed area, known as the "Ciuperca Hill", is located in Oradea (NW part of Romania) and it has experienced a number of landsliding events in previous years, which have endangered anthropogenic systems. Our investigation, focused on the main causal factors, determined that landslide events have rather complex components, reflected in the joint climatological characteristics, properties of the geological substrate, and human activity that further contributed to the intensive change of landscape and acceleration of slope instability. Analysis of daily precipitation displays the occurrence and intensive distribution between May and September. Higher values of rainfall erosivity (observed for the 2014-2017 period), are occurring between April and August. Erosivity density follows this pattern and indicates high intensity events from April until October. SPI index reveals the greater presence of various wet classes during the investigated period. Geological substrate has been found to be highly susceptible to erosion and landsliding when climatological conditions are suitable. Accelerated urbanization and reduced vegetation cover intensified slope instability. The authors implemented adequate remote-sensing techniques in order to monitor and assess the temporal changes in landslide events at local level. Potential solutions for preventative actions are given in order to introduce and conduct qualitative mitigation strategies for shaping sustainable urban environments. Results from this study could have implications for mitigation strategies at national, regional, county, and municipality levels, providing knowledge for the enhancement of geohazard prevention and appropriate response plans.

Hydrological heritage is a relatively new concept in the field of geosite assessment. The principal aim of this study is to apply M-GAM (Modified geosite assessment model) for comparative analysis of the Krupaja spring and the Zagubica (Mlava) spring, located in Homolje area, in Eastern Serbia. According to the classification of geosites of Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, these sites are on the list of protected sites ("hydro(geo)logical" heritage sites) of extraordinary national importance; however, they still have not gained necessary recognition in Serbia. Thus, their assessment according to different target groups should provide a clearer picture of their current condition. As M-GAM considers that not all indicators for evaluation of geosites are of the same importance, this paper applies two methods for comparing and determining the importance of indicators and subindicators in the model (Analytical-hierarchy process (AHP) and descriptive statistics conducted by SPSS). Also, it is assumed that different target groups will give different importance to some indicators in the model, which would result in various evaluation scores for the same geosites. The paper also provides a comparative analysis of the assessment carried out by two different target groups - potential geotourists and geoexperts. The results obtained by AHP and descriptive statistics are quite similar, which confirms the reliability of respondents' answers and the results gained. The analyzed sites are differently positioned in the evaluation matrix, and implications are further discussed in the paper.

Hydrological heritage is a relatively new concept in the field of geosite assessment. The principal aim of this study is to apply M-GAM (Modified geosite assessment model) for comparative analysis of the Krupaja spring and the Zagubica (Mlava) spring, located in Homolje area, in Eastern Serbia. According to the classification of geosites of Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, these sites are on the list of protected sites ("hydro(geo)logical" heritage sites) of extraordinary national importance; however, they still have not gained necessary recognition in Serbia. Thus, their assessment according to different target groups should provide a clearer picture of their current condition. As M-GAM considers that not all indicators for evaluation of geosites are of the same importance, this paper applies two methods for comparing and determining the importance of indicators and subindicators in the model (Analytical-hierarchy process (AHP) and descriptive statistics conducted by SPSS). Also, it is assumed that different target groups will give different importance to some indicators in the model, which would result in various evaluation scores for the same geosites. The paper also provides a comparative analysis of the assessment carried out by two different target groups - potential geotourists and geoexperts. The results obtained by AHP and descriptive statistics are quite similar, which confirms the reliability of respondents' answers and the results gained. The analyzed sites are differently positioned in the evaluation matrix, and implications are further discussed in the paper.

Bearing in mind the high growth rates of spa and wellness tourism on a global level, the quantity and quality of competitive bidding has continuous growth, and in these conditions it is extremely difficult for everyone to get adequate market position. Since Serbia, despite the extremely favorable natural resources for the development of spa tourism, is still among the underdeveloped destinations, of particular importance for the future improvement of this type of tourism and positioning of spas as a tourist destination on the international tourist market is the transformation of the traditional spas in modern spa centers and wellness tourism. The main aim of the research part of this thesis is to set up a relevant scientific basis for interpretation of the transformation process of traditional spas Serbia into modern centers spa and wellness tourism; this basis must be applicable, relevant and supported by adequate theoretical framework. The task of this research was to identify the problems of development of tourism in Serbian spas, on the one hand through the analysis of the motivation of tourists who visit spas, and on the other by analyzing attributes of attractiveness spas. This thesis aims to develop a model that would encompass all the factors that influence the decision-making process of tourists when it comes to choosing the spa as a place to rest. Previous studies either included only motivation (push and pull motives) or constraints, while this study presents an integrated model that includes all three factors. Understanding and adapting to the motivation and behavior of tourists is the only way to be competitive at the spa tourism market. The survey was conducted on samples of several tourists in spas in Serbia. Analysis of all the factors that influence the decision-making process on the selection of spas as tourist destinations in Serbia was carried out with the help of Analytical - Hierarchy Process (AHP method)., Imajući u vidu visoke stope rasta spa i wellness turizma na globalnom nivou, kvantitet i kvalitet konkurentskih ponuda beleži kontinuirani rast, te je u takvim uslovima vrlo zahtevan zadatak izboriti se za adekvatnu poziciju na tržištu. Budući da se Srbija, uprkos izuzetno povoljnim prirodnim resursima za razvoj banjskog turizma, još uvek ubraja u nedovoljno razvijene destinacije, od posebnog značaja za buduće unapređenje ovog vida turizma i pozicioniranje banja kao turističkih destinacija na međunarodnom turističkom tržištu, jeste upravo njihova transformacija od tradicionalnih lečilišta u moderne centre spa i wellness turizma. Osnovni cilj istraživanja u okviru ove disertacije je postavljanje naučno relevantnih osnova tumačenja procesa transformacije tradicionalnih banja Srbije u savremene centre spa i wellness turizma, koje će biti aplikativno prihvatljive i potkrepljene adekvatnim teorijskim okvirom. Zadaci istraživanja odnosili su se na razradu problematike turizma u banjama Srbije, s jedne strane analizom motivacije turista koji posećuju banje, a sa druge analizom atributa atraktivnosti banja. U disertaciji se pokušao razviti model koji bi obuhvatio sve faktore koji utiču na proces donošenja odluke turista kada je reč o izboru banje kao mesta za odmor. Dosadašnje studije ili su obuhvatale samo motivaciju (push i pull motive) ili samo ograničenja, dok je u ovoj studiji predstavljen integralan model koji uključuje sva tri faktora. Razumevanje i prilagođavanje motivaciji i ponašanju turista je jedini način da banje budu konkurentne na turističkom tržištu. Anketno istraživanje sprovedeno je na uzorcima turista u više banja u Srbiji. Analiza svih faktora koji utiču na proces donošenja odluke o izboru banja kao turističkih destinacija u Srbiji urađena je uz pomoć analitičko - hijerarhijskog procesa (AHP metod).

The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.

The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.

The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.

The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.