IMPROVEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM OF SERBIA

Serbia, without doubt, has qualitative and diverse base to develop tourism. Natural attractions as well as attained level of lodging and other capacities point out that numerous types of tourism could be developed, especially if one takes into account landscape diversity as well as natural potentials of Serbia. Previous development of tourism affirms its numerous effects which, in significant manner, have been embedded in economic and social development of Serbia. In that connection, the aim of this work is to point out the necessity of stimulating tourism in Serbia, which would form necessary assumptions for its dynamic role in the development of economy of Serbia.Tourism; Marketing strategy; Goals; Development.

MANAGEMENT OF TOURIST COMPANIES ON THE MODERN TOURIST MARKET

Substantial differences have characterized modern trends on the tourist market in the period before and after 1990. There is almost no country in the world that does not reckon seriously with tourism in its economic development. The modern-day tourist is an increasingly “spoiled” consumer of tourist services and his/her requirements are specific and partial. The higher standard of living of the population and an ever greater amount of leisure time, as well as the development of transport technology and service technology in general accounted for important changes in the demand, bringing about considerable changes in the supply, primarily in the adaptation of the tourist product to the requirements of an increasingly sophisticated demand and the changes in the process of marketing, management and application. This paper focuses on modern trends on the tourist market and the necessity to apply the knowledge of modern management and marketing.Tourism; Management; Strategy; Marketing; Globalism.

Economic crisis impact on changes in international financial institutions operating

The emergence and deepening global economic crisis is in large part reflected in the operation of international financial institutions and their current structure. Long-term financial crisis has increased demands for decisive reform moves in operating and structure of the IMF, World Bank Group and other global and regional financial institutions. This means that so far the results of their policies are inadequate and that their role is subject to critical observation. The crisis has imposed the need to reform international financial institutions and new global financial architecture. Changes in their structure and operation should lead to global economic stability. Members of the Euro zone are faced with a new attitude towards the international financial institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund. Proclaimed missions of International Monetary Fund and World Bank clearly differ in theory, but with the passage of time their activities have become increasingly intertwined

Improving the Service Quality as a Socially Responsible Activity of Hotel Companies

In this article, the results of the survey examining quality of service in spa hotels are interpreted. Research was conducted in five spas in West Morava region during August and September 2008. Service quality was measured with a model based on SERVQUAL model. Collected data were analyzed using statistical methods of descriptive statistical analysis and analysis of variables ANOVA, which were useful in defining whether there is statistically significant connection between dependant variables (questions on expectations and perception) and independent variables (structure of respondents regarding their occupation). The results indicate negative SERVQUAL gap in total (-0.21). The largest negative SERVQUAL gap was noted at the first determinant related to the tangible elements of service, which further points to conclusion that main problems in providing high-quality services in the spa hotels are inappropriate arrangement of facilities and equipment, time worn of facilities in general, lack of understanding of contemporary demand trends, unaccomplished process of hotel privatization, uniformity of tourism offer and lack of market research related to hotel services consumers. In the authors’ opinion, the aforementioned problems could be overcome with creation and implementation of development strategies with short and long term development plans, as well as with investment incentives in spa tourism development. The organization with strategy based on the principles of social responsibility has the potential to built and sustain successful relationships with present and potential customers, as well as with all interested stakeholders.service quality, SERVQUAL, spa hotels, corporate social responsibility

The ownership structure as a corporate governance mechanism in Serbian hotels

This article analyses the development in Serbien tourism sector during the last decade. The article is focused on the ownership structure and company performance in the light of corporate governance theory and the actuel privatisation process. Previous research has proven that Serbien state is a poor and pasive owner, whereas private owners and amployees are more active and more interested in their company's economic performance. This article shows that the transition to private ownership in the Serbian hotels sector has not been finished. Consequently, state-owned and investment funds remain important owners of Serbien hotels. The financial performance of hotel companies is below average in the economy and can be correlated with the current ownership structure. Since the current ownership structure has a negative impact on the hotel sector competitiveness, an ownership change is needed to boost the sector's competitivensess and the competitivensess of Serbia as tourist destination

The possibilities for repositioning of the Opatija Riviera's tourism offer

The competition on the tourist market is getting more harsh, which imposes the need for continuous co-operation of academic and economic community with the objective to get to know the latest wishes and aspirations of increasingly demanding tourists, and improvement of the tourism offer in accordance with their preferences. Maximum efforts must be invested in achieving recognisability and competitive advantages on the international tourist market. The purpose of the paper was to point out the importance of Opatija Riviera as a tourist destination in function of contributing the development of a Croatian tourist product. The goal of the paper was to give the presentation of the importance of researching the satisfaction with the offer of a tourist destination. It is necessary to reposition the current position of the Opatija Riviera on the tourist market and to, through adequate promotion of the tourist destination, increase the tourist turnover

Improving the Service Quality as a Socially Responsible Activity of Hotel Companies

In this article, the results of the survey examining quality of service in spa hotels are interpreted. Research was conducted in five spas in West Morava region during August and September 2008. Service quality was measured with a model based on SERVQUAL model. Collected data were analyzed using statistical methods of descriptive statistical analysis and analysis of variables ANOVA, which were useful in defining whether there is statistically significant connection between dependant variables (questions on expectations and perception) and independent variables (structure of respondents regarding their occupation). The results indicate negative SERVQUAL gap in total (-0.21). The largest negative SERVQUAL gap was noted at the first determinant related to the tangible elements of service, which further points to conclusion that main problems in providing high-quality services in the spa hotels are inappropriate arrangement of facilities and equipment, time worn of facilities in general, lack of understanding of contemporary demand trends, unaccomplished process of hotel privatization, uniformity of tourism offer and lack of market research related to hotel services consumers. In the authors’ opinion, the aforementioned problems could be overcome with creation and implementation of development strategies with short and long term development plans, as well as with investment incentives in spa tourism development. The organization with strategy based on the principles of social responsibility has the potential to built and sustain successful relationships with present and potential customers, as well as with all interested stakeholders

Signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) regulates the homeostasis of CD103⁺CD11b⁺ DCs in the intestinal lamina propria

Signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRP alpha/CD172a) is a conserved transmembrane protein thought to play an inhibitory role in immune function by binding the ubiquitous ligand CD47. SIRP alpha expression has been used to identify dendritic cell subsets across species and here we examined its expression and function on intestinal DCs in mice. Normal mucosa contains four subsets of DCs based on their expression of CD103 and CD11b and three of these express SIRP alpha. However, loss of SIRP alpha signaling in mice leads to a selective reduction in the CD103(+)CD11b(+) subset of DCs in the small intestine, colon, and amongmigratory DCs in the mesenteric lymph node. In parallel, these mice have reduced numbers of T(H)17 cells in steady-state intestinal mucosa, and a defective T(H)17 response to Citrobacter infection. Identical results were obtained in CD47KO mice. DC precursors from SIRP alpha mutant mice had an enhanced ability to generate CD103(+)CD11b(+) DCs in vivo, but CD103(+)CD11b(+) DCs from mutant mice were more prone to die by apoptosis. These data show a previously unappreciated and crucial role for SIRP alpha in the homeostasis of CD103(+)CD11b(+) DCs in the intestine, as well as providing further evidence that this subset of DCs is critical for the development of mucosal T(H)17 responses

A cationic tetrapyrrole inhibits toxic activities of the cellular prion protein

Prion diseases are rare neurodegenerative conditions associated with the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into PrPSc, a self-replicating isoform (prion) that accumulates in the central nervous system of affected individuals. The structure of PrPSc is poorly defined, and likely to be heterogeneous, as suggested by the existence of different prion strains. The latter represents a relevant problem for therapy in prion diseases, as some potent anti-prion compounds have shown strain-specificity. Designing therapeutics that target PrPC may provide an opportunity to overcome these problems. PrPC ligands may theoretically inhibit the replication of multiple prion strains, by acting on the common substrate of any prion replication reaction. Here, we characterized the properties of a cationic tetrapyrrole [Fe(III)-TMPyP], which was previously shown to bind PrPC, and inhibit the replication of a mouse prion strain. We report that the compound is active against multiple prion strains in vitro and in cells. Interestingly, we also find that Fe(III)-TMPyP inhibits several PrPC-related toxic activities, including the channel-forming ability of a PrP mutant, and the PrPC-dependent synaptotoxicity of amyloid-beta (A beta) oligomers, which are associated with Alzheimer's Disease. These results demonstrate that molecules binding to PrPC may produce a dual effect of blocking prion replication and inhibiting PrPC-mediated toxicity

Impact of initian condotions of transition progress : the case of Montenegro.

Shortly after the transition started an important debate was initiated over the length of the process and on the factors that influence advancement of a country in transition reforms. It appeared that transition progress has to be understood as an endogenous phenomenon that is affected by the initial conditions of the country in question. Moreover, economic performance also depends on inher¬ited conditions as well as on the transition progress of a country while the latter should be also regarded as endogenous in itself. From this standpoint the case of the Montenegrin economy is analysed, since Montenegro is among transition lag¬gards, predominantly because of a substantially delayed start of reforms. Firstly, broader assessments on transition progress are presented, mostly based on the EBRD indicators. Since the actual success of reforms conducted as well as their speed and pace of implementation, cannot be estimated correctly unless inher¬ited conditions are taken into consideration, several models have been specified and estimated that could show how and to what extent initial conditions affect the transition progress of transition economies. The results obtained for the en¬tire set of transition countries are subsequently applied to the case of Montene¬gro. The results lead to a conclusion that reforms in the country proceeded at a faster pace after the 1999 but were primarily directed to privatisation and liber¬alisation issues while institution building is slightly delayed and stays below an accessible level regarding initial and inherited conditions in Montenegro