European Researcher, 2014, Vol.гсфдз № 2-2 382 Geosciences ԝȈțȒȐ Ȗ ԗȍȔȓȍ Exploration and Exploitation of Mineral Waters and their Influence on the Regional Development – Case Study of a Vrnjacka Spa (Serbia) 1 Tamara LukiФ 2 Nevena УurЦiФ 3 Ţeljko эjeljac 4 Milka эubalo ŢivkoviФ 5 эojan erЦan 6 Kristina KošiФ 7 Ivana PenjiševiФ 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 University of Novi Sad, Serbia Trg яositeja ObradoviФa оз нмллл Novi Sad E-mail: snstamara@yahoo.com 3 Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Serbia ure JaksiФaз м1000 Belgrade 7 University of Priština, Serbia Lole Ribara 29, Kosovska Mitrovica Abstract. Geothermal energy, coal and hydropower are the major resources of Serbia. Serbia has more than 300 mineral and thermo mineral wells and more than 40 spas. Vrnjacka Spa is the most visited spa in Serbia. It is situated in the central Serbia, on the contact of the Goc Mountain and the West Morava valley, e.g. on the 43 0 37 ‟ of the northern latitude 20 0 53 ‟ of the eastern longitude. Using different literature sources, article provides an overview of the past and state of exploration of mineral and thermo mineral waters of Vrnjacka Spa. It explains their importance and influence on the development. The article analyzes the characteristics of thermo–mineral waters in Vrnjacka Spa and the condition and possibilities of their exploitation in different economic branches. Explorations are still contemporary trend in Vrnjacka Spa. There are few new springs. Particular attention is given on the results of questionnaire about future development of Vrnjacka Spa. Results show the following facts. Existence of Vrnjacka Spa and its region depend of wellbeing of mineral and thermo-mineral waters. There are different views of development perspectives. Generally they are differed on the positive and optimist views of young people and other, which belong to elder respondents. Keywords: thermo-mineral waters; Central Serbia; Vrnjacka Spa. Introduction Geothermal energy is considered to be ecologically clean [Duffield, Sass, 2003; Kaygusuz, Kaygusuz, 2004]. It belongs to the group of renewable types of energy [Demirbas, Bakis 2004; Fridleifsson, 1996; 2001]. In exploitation, it is cheaper and multiple profitable in the long run compared to all the energies that have been conventionally used. Unlike the other natural renewable sources of energy, it does not depend upon the season, meteorological conditions and all