Forum geografic. Studii și cercetări de geografie și protecția mediului Volume XIII, Issue 1 (June 2014), pp. 111-118 (8) http://dx.doi.org/10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2014.246.i 111 forumgeografic.ro Tourist events in Serbian part of Banat Željko BJELJAC 1,* , Aleksandra TERZIĆ 1 , Tamara LUKIĆ 2 1 Geographical Institute ''Jovan Cvijić'', Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Djure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 2 Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Science, Univerzity of Novi Sad Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia * Corresponding author, z.bjeljac@gi.sanu.ac.rs Received on <17-01-2014>, reviewed on <20-02-2014>, accepted on <05-03-2014> Abstract In this paper tourist events organized in the area of Serbian Banat are studied. They represent the base for initial development of tourism, but also some other economic activities in this underdeveloped region. Those events are mostly based on tradition, folklore and customs (ethnographic by type) and agricultural production (fairs, exhibitions). However, there are also a number of multicultural events (artistic, ethnographic and religious events), based on fact that this space is multiethnic in character. In Serbian part of Banat, in 2013, about 416 traditional tourist events were organized. Keywords: tourist events, tourism, Banat Rezumat. Evenimente cu rol turistic in Banatul Sârbesc Lucrarea analizează evenimentele cu rol turistic din Banatul Sârbesc. Aceste evenimente reprezintă baza pentru dezvoltarea inițială a turismului, precum și activități economice considerabile pentru această zonă subdezvoltată. Ele sunt legate în primul rând de tradiții, folclor și obiceiuri (etnografie), precum și de practicile și producțiile agricole (targuri, expoziții). Totuși, există mai multe evenimente cu caracter artistic, etnografic și religios, ținând cont de mozaicul etnic al acestui spațiu. În Banatul Sârbesc, în anul 2013, au fost organizate 416 evenimente cu rol turistic. Cuvinte-cheie: evenimente cu rol turistic, turism, Banat Introduction Events, starting from the last decade of 20th and first decade of 21st century, became the important development tool for local communities and regions. They are regarded as a possibility to gain some strategic advantages and bring a number of economical, social and ecological goals. The role and impact of events in tourism field is well documented. Their role in enhancing the competitiveness of destination on tourism market is more and more evident. Moreover, because of the increase of competitiveness between tourist destinations, organizing events and development of event tourism became an important activity. As tourism is regarded as one of the fastest growing industries today, within tourism sector, events became more and more significant elements of tourist offer (Erfurt, Johnsen, 2003). In scientific literature in Serbia and abroad, different terminology for this type of tourism (manifestations, events, festivals, parliaments, etc.) is used (Getz, 1997; 2008; Bjeljac, 2006; Cudny, 2013). Different terms are used based on geographical area and domination of language among different nations. In accordance with this, in areas with dominant Germanic group of languages (England, Germany, Scandinavian countries, USA) terms event and festival are used, while in other countries (with Latin and Slavic language base - Italy, France, Spain, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, etc.) the term manifestation is more popular. In Serbia, in particular, event tourism, as economically prosperous type of tourist offer, become significant in first decade of 21st century. It was defined for the first time in some strategic national documents, such as Tourism development strategy of Republic of Serbia (2006). In this document, this segment of tourism offer is seen as a great market potential. “In Serbia a great number of traditional events, local manifestations, festivals, celebrations, parliaments, etc. is organized. Beside their popularity on domestic market, some of these events have a potential to be placed on international market, where they already gained some positive reputation“ (Strategy 2006). According to different sources, about 2,500 tourist events are organized, annually in Serbia (www. vodič kroz manifestacije.com/kalendar manifestacija; www.vojvodinaonline.com/events). The organization of such a great number of events should contribute to the come-back and repositioning of Serbia on international tourist market, by increasing the level of competitiveness and creation of stronger base for marketing activities. Serbian Banat has numerous and various natural and anthropogenic resources which are important for the development of tourism. However, in this sense, the rich cultural-historic heritage of Banat has special value, which is presented through multiculturalism, different customs, folklore, music and gastronomy (Bjeljac, Ćurčić, 2008, 2010; Obradović, 2009). Event tourism is one of the leading types of tourist offer in this part of Serbia (Bjeljac, 2001; Obradović, 2009). The aim of this work is to conduct the categorization and classification of tourist events in the Serbian part of Banat.