Gastronomy, as a part of cultural heritage, has exceptional potential in tourism, and its key representatives and conservationists/guardians are hospitality facilities that provide food services. Vojvodina (the Republic of Serbia) is a region inhabited by more than 30 ethnic minorities that have nurtured their cultural heritage and have been incorporating it into gastronomy for many years. The subject of this paper is the gastronomy of ethnic groups in Vojvodina and its significance for tourism development from the point of view of hospitality workers as important actors in the sustainability of heritage. One of the motives behind this study is the twelfth UN sustainable development goal (SDGs) defined in 2015, which refers to providing sustainable forms of consumption and production and which emphasizes the development and application of tools for monitoring the impact that sustainable development has on tourism that promotes local culture and products (12b). The aim of this study was to obtain data on the preservation of heritage, that is, on authenticity within the region/area and ethnic groups, and then to perform a valorization of dishes and define steps on how to make gastronomic heritage a more visible tourist attraction, from the perspective of sustainability. Our survey included a sample of 508 respondents, all employees in the hospitality industry. The obtained results were statistically processed. The research showed that the Južnabačka district has the greatest importance in tourism from the aspect of the implementation, preservation, and sustainability of gastronomic heritage in tourism. Among the ethnic groups, the Vojvodina Hungarians place the greatest importance on the preservation of gastronomy, which includes dishes such as goulash and uses ingredients such as river fish. The research led to the conclusion that those in the hospitality industry are of the opinion that gastronomic heritage should be promoted through activities such as tourist exposure, marketing activities, and promoting the diversity of authentic food offers in catering facilities.

The subject of this paper is the tourist potential of the gastronomic heritage of ethnic minorities inhabiting Vojvodina (Northern Serbia). The task of the paper is to examine the state of authenticity and potential for placement in the tourism market. The goal of the research was to obtain data about the authenticity and representation of authentic and traditional dishes in homes and hospitality facilities and their positioning in tourism. The research was conducted from October 2020 to May 2021 among residents of the region belonging to minority groups (Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Roma). The survey was conducted electronically through cultural, art, and educational institutions that maintain the culture and tradition of the studied ethnic groups. The number of respondents who participated in the research was 619. The obtained data were statistically processed using descriptive statistics, as well as by using t-tests and ANOVA (LSD post hoc), and the reliability of the psychometric scales was assessed by the use of Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Research has shown that Vojvodina, with its ethnic structure and gastronomic heritage, has the potential to attract tourists motivated by authentic food. Tourism potential of gastronomic heritage are proportionate to the share of ethnic groups; hence, the representation and preservation of the Hungarian, Slovakian, and Croatian cuisines are predominant. The respondents have shown awareness of the activities that would contribute to a better positioning of gastronomic heritage in tourism through implementation in different tourism manifestations and extra marketing activities.

Agritourism as a special type of tourist migration is a very important link in the diversification of rural areas, connecting the geography, culture, tradition, and gastronomy of the local population, and placing products and services through the hospitality and tourism market. Thanks to this form of tourism, underdeveloped places are gaining in importance and attracting the attention of visitors who are oriented towards natural things, which in turn contributes to a better economic situation of the locality and the population. This paper aims to examine the attitudes of farm owners in the Republic of Serbia toward the impact of agritourism on the economy, living environment, social life, and culture. The data were collected by surveying the owners of agricultural holdings in the territory of the Republic of Serbia and statistically processed using factor analysis, descriptive statistics, and linear regression. Based on the obtained results, it has been established that the owners of agricultural farms are interested in the development of agritourism, and that their positive perception of the impact that agritourism has on the living environment and economy greatly contributes to that. To a lesser extent, a positive attitude was noted toward the importance of agrotourism for the local community and locals, where the positive aspects of agritourism were the education of visitors on agriculture, promotion of the local culture, agricultural and gastronomic products, and sustainable development and investment in infrastructure.

The sustainability of rural settlements in Serbia has become the main focus of strategic rural development planning. Although it is still difficult to measure the quality of life of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia, preliminary results show that it is necessary to go beyond the GDP as the only or one of its most important indicators. A multidimensional approach and analysis at the local level is necessary for more comprehensive insight into quality of life in order to avoid erroneous or simplified conclusions. Striving to provide more detailed insight into the attitudes and needs of the local population, this research uses a qualitative approach. Subjective measures of how people feel and function in everyday life can predict future reactions, many of which are in the domain of the interests of local public services. The aim of the research is to apply measurement indicators through six dimensions of well-being in order to determine to what extent the inhabitants of rural communities are satisfied with some indicators and how they assess their own well-being. The research results illustrate the importance of understanding the needs of the local population and the perception of overall life experience in monitoring balanced rural development. The research can be adapted and applied to any rural community. Thus, only by developing a participatory approach can one strive for community-based rural development.

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina represents a region characterized by expressed multi-ethnicity. This unique mixture of more than 30 different nations influenced the formation of a unique and recognizable cultural heritage. Gastronomy, as one of the most impressive components of cultural heritage, has a very important role in positioning a tourist destination on the global market. The subject of this paper is the views of hospitality workers of gastronomic heritage in Vojvodina and its possibilities to influence further development of tourism in the region. This paper aims to provide a better insight into the mindset of hospitality workers, as carriers of the hospitality offer, about the chances of multiculturalism in the region to become a differential force in the tourism market. The research included 508 respondents employed in all hospitality sectors. The results show that the respondents believe that ethnic minorities' dishes are insufficiently represented in offers of hospitality facilities, but that employees believe that they can be an advantage in creation a gastronomic heritage.

Gastronomy and food production and preparation in certain areas reflect the cultural and traditional characteristics of people who live there. Vojvodina is characterized by a variety of cuisines of the people who lived and still live in this area. This study will attempt to depict the differences in the production of agricultural and food products in Vojvodina's households, as well as the basics for the preservation of authenticity and traditional values of gastronomy. The aim of this work is to examine the representation of agricultural and food production in counties of Vojvodina and which county has the most potential to attract food-oriented tourists. The research is conducted through a survey questionnaire among the residents of Vojvodina. The re-search is conducted from October 2020 to May 2021. 619 respondents took part in the research. The data collected were processed by applying descriptive statistics, which are then presented tabularly and graphically. This research concludes that traditional values in Vojvodina are preserved through pro-duction of agricultural and food products inside this area. The south part of Bačka has the most potential for the development of tourism, while the production of agricultural and food products is widely represented in central Banat, west parts of Bačka and Srem.