This research deals with the evaluation of tourist attractions in selected protected areas (PAs) in Serbia for the purpose of developing ecotourism. Using the integral AHP-SWOT method, two authentic mountain areas were analyzed—Stara Planina Nature Park and Suva Planina Special Nature Reserve. The results confirmed the presence of numerous natural and, to a lesser extent, anthropogenic resources that represent the basis for the future ecotourism activities. However, significant weaknesses were also registered, which are reflected in overall poverty, underdeveloped infrastructure and depopulation. The analysis also showed that the highest rated factors for the development of ecotourism are local products that should be offered on the regional market, as well as the use of the geographical position of both areas (near the state border) through the use of donor funds (IPA funds). The application of the AHP-SWOT method enabled the definition and prioritization of several development strategies, of which the ones with the greatest weight are based on the use of the variegated biodiversity of both PAs. This research advances knowledge about strategic decision-making in PAs and could be beneficial to destination managers for the creation of successful strategic plans. Results suggest that future actions should be aimed at maximizing the detected advantages, which means creating an appropriate development policy, drafting legislation, encouraging social mobilization activities and determining the institutional elements for the development and management of ecotourism.

The paper indicates the importance of spatial planning as a specific instrument for the protection and management of World Heritage sites in Serbia. The paper analyses the obligations set forth in the international and national documents and legislation relevant for spatial planning, on the one hand, and World Heritage protection, on the other hand. The notion, criteria, method of zoning, systems and approaches to the management of sites inscribed on the World Heritage List are shown through the concept of World Heritage. The paper also emphasizes the importance of adopting management plans for all World Heritage sites and their incorporation into the national legislation and planning documents, primarily into the special purpose area spatial plans. It also gives examples of special purpose spatial plans in order to consider the treatment of World Heritage in these documents, and to make proposals for improving the spatial planning and the existing protection and management of the World Heritage sites in Serbia.

The paper explains the importance and role of spatial planning in the context of the preservation and sustainable use of ecological networks. The concept of ecological networks is presented in terms of its main goals, structure, functions and approaches to biodiversity conservation. The paper gives an overview of ecological network development in Serbia, but also an overview of the activities carried out in establishing the NATURA 2000 European ecological network. Possibilities for improving the spatial planning process in light of the functional development of ecological networks in Serbia are indicated through an analysis of the requirements arising from the policies relevant for spatial planning and the development of ecological networks using the example of drawn up spatial plans.

The paper points to the significance of synergy and linking of natural and cultural heritage with the dominant spiritual component of the area, which is recognized in several international documents it is working on. Through the analysis of good practice from neighboring countries (Bulgaria, Greece and Italy), as well as examples of similar characteristics in Serbia (Biosphere Reserve Golija-Studenica), and it points to the opportunities for improvement in this area.

Ecotourism is considered a sustainable form of travel that is more environmentally beneficial than the concept of mass tourism. In this context, protected natural areas are considered an essential potential for ecotourism development, which is underpinned and driven by the preparation of strategies. This paper prioritizes ecotourism development strategies on the example of the Uvac Special Nature Reserve in the Republic of Serbia. The SWOT analysis is strengthened by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a particularly suitable method for strategic planning of an area. The first step of the combined SWOT-AHP method implied a SWOT analysis. Afterward, in the second and third steps, the weighting coefficients of individual elements within the SWOT group and then the weights of the groups were determined. In the final step, the ecotourism development strategies for this area were formulated, weighted by their efficiency coefficients, and ranked. This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding and promotion of applying multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), i.e., the combined SWOT-AHP method, in prioritizing strategies for developing protected natural areas and their ecotourism.