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Gastronomic tourism represents an important aspect in the tourism environment and is often a central segment of the tourist experience. The paper aims at analysing gastronomic tourism offer in the Herzegovina region (Bosnia and Herzegovina), taking into consideration its natural and cultural characteristics, and providing recommendations for its improvement. Primary data were collected by face-to-face interviews carried out with rural tourism stakeholders, managers of tourist organizations, owners of catering facilities, winery owners and local food producers as well as a survey with visitors (tourists). Field research was conducted in July 2019 in seven cities and/or municipalities of the Herzegovina region (Mostar, Trebinje, Capljina, Ljubuski, Bileca, Nevesinje and Gacko). The first part of the paper illustrates Herzegovina as a destination rich in natural and cultural attractions with a focus on traditional cuisine. In the second part, based on the research results, the situation is assessed and recommendations for the future development of gastronomic tourism are given in order to improve the existing tourist offer. Many actors in tourism (e.g. hotels, restaurants, local community, etc.) have realized the importance of gastronomy as a catalyst for the movement of tourists and stimulation of local, regional and national economic development. Typical products, such as domestic food and wine, have been given an adequate function to characterize the tourist offer and represent in many cases the main attraction. Herzegovina region is recognizable by its traditional cuisine, which represents an important asset for the future development of gastronomic tourism. Education and raising the awareness of all actors as well as local communities about gastronomic tourism is paramount for the sector development. Local entrepreneurial endeavours can benefit from connection and exchange with partners from Europe to create a recognizable gastronomic destination in the tourism market.

This paper analyzes the karst landscape of Southeastern Serbia, Mount Kalafat. The evaluation of five representative caves was performed using M-GAM (modified geosite assessment model) and the perspectives and potentials of karst-based geotourism were presented, through speleology, paleoclimate, and archaeology. Moreover, a unique proposal was presented in the form of a karst protection project through the establishment of a karst theme park. Although there are other attractive karst regions in Serbia, Mount Kalafat has been taken as a study area, due to the willingness of the local management structures and authorities to support projects concerning the protection of geoheritage and the development of karst-based geotourism. The results of the research indicate the evident values of the karst geoheritage and geotourism potentials that can become significant indicators for the development of sustainable geotourism and geoconservation in this area. Thus, precise measures and sustainable strategies that could define the geoethical concept of geotourism development have been presented in this paper. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The European Association for Conservation of the Geological Heritage.