Possibilities for Fair, Sustainable and Carbon Free Tourism (Belgrade)

About the Event:

The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus significantly affected the number of tourists and overnight stays in Serbia, and tourism in Belgrade was particularly affected. The number of tourists in March 2020 in Belgrade decreased by 65.2% compared to March 2019, while in April 2020 the number of tourists decreased by 98.8% compared to April 2019; in May 2020, a reduced number of tourists was recorded compared to May 2019 with 95.7%.

The COVID-19 pandemic especially affected the number of foreign tourists who, due to the closure of state borders and prevention measures, did not come to Belgrade. After the mitigation of measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the number of domestic tourists was noted in Serbia, but that recovery was limited in Belgrade, which was the main focal point of the infected in Serbia. In June 2020, the total number of tourists in Belgrade was 83.8% lower compared to June 2019, this trend continued in July with 88.2% and in August with 85.8% less tourists compared to the same months during 2019.

The almost complete shut down and uncertainty that emerged in the tourism and hospitality sector at the global and European level, as well as in Serbia and the city of Belgrade, left room for reflection on how to make the tourism sector more fair, sustainable and carbon neutral after the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

Context:

This event is part of the Green European Foundation’s Fair and Carbon Free Tourism transnational project. This project aims to identify and create conditions for collective action against the detrimental social and environmental impacts of tourism. In many countries, tourism is a generator of GDP and fully employed in a growth oriented consumerist economy. However, there is an underestimated environmental and social impact of tourism.

Programme:

• 18:00-18:10 Introduction

Predrag Momčilović – Platform for Theory and Practice Zajedničko

• 18:10-18:20 The project and the situation in Croatia

Nikolina Rajković – Institute for Political Ecology

• 18:20-18:30 Presentation of research report about Fair and carbon free tourism in Belgrade

Nikoleta Petković and Elene Petrovska – Zajedničko

• 18:30-20:00 Panel debate about possibilities for fair, sustainable and carbon free tourism in Belgrade

Natalija Stojmenović – Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)own

Miloš Baković Jadžić –Party of the Radical Left

Vladimir Pajić – Movement of Free Citizens

Moderation: Predrag Momčilović – Zajedničko

Practicalities:

When: Wednesday, 4th November (18:00 – 20:00 CET)

Where: Cultural center Grad, Braće Krsmanović 4, Belgrade

A live stream will also be provided via this link.

This event will be primarily in Serbian. No translation is foreseen. 

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This event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Zajedničko and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation