Regeneration of Vrnjačka Banja and sustainable tourism development

Abstract

The development of Vrnjačka Banja has always been dynamic, starting with its reputation of an elite spa, followed by being a spa for mass medical and other tourist purposes, all up to present days when Banja became the economic center of its municipality, qualified by a number of various functions and interests. With the latest Master Plan for Vrnjačka Banja, the attempt was made to have a better control over space and to meet most of the partial interests. The aim was to "activate" wider area of Banja from central parts to the periphery, and to comprehend Banja in its wider context. Sustainable development as a tall order cannot be attained if its application does not involve a number of other instruments of public action or if it is not in sync with reaching a consensus, which would require a permanent action. In such a context, Master Plan is not an obstacle but a solid basis with significant flexibility for a creative local government.

Razvoj Vrnjačke Banje je bio dinamičan, od mondenske banje, preko banje masovnog lečilišnog i drugih vidova turizma do današnje banje - privrednog centra opštine sa vrlo raznorodnim funkcijama i interesima. Novim Generalnim planom napravljen je pokušaj da se kontroliše prostor i zadovolje mnogi raznorodni interesi. Namera je bila da se aktivira širi prostor Banje od centra do periferije i da se ona sagleda u širokom okruženju. Održivi razvoj kao sintagma je neostvariv ako se u njegovu primenu ne uključi i niz instrumenata društvene akcije, ali kroz dogovor koji traži permanentno delovanje. U ovom kontekstu Generalni plan nije kočnica već dobra osnova, sa dosta fleksibilnosti za kreativnu lokalnu upravu.