The Republic of Serbia has numerous predispositions for the development of rural tourism, considering that it represents a factor in the revitalization of the surrounding rural areas. Development and orientation towards "rural Serbia" could bring numerous advantages that relate to stopping migration flows from rural areas to urban areas and provide revitalizing the agricultural sector and other complementary activities. The aim of paper is to point out the importance of rural tourism, as one of the priority products of the Republic of Serbia, through the analysis of the current level of its development, and predicting future trends that promote the future of rural tourism. The methodology includes an overview of the theoretical framework of rural tourism collection of existing statistical data, obtained on the basis of previous research.

Purpose - The paper aims to examine the local populace's perceptions towards the possibilities and approaches of developing rural tourism in the rural areas of the Vrnjačka Banja municipality. The goal of the study is to contribute to the understanding of rural tourism development and the promotion of sustainable rural development while actively involving the local population. Methodology - The collected primary data underwent analysis employing descriptive statistics and factor analysis in IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 software. Findings - The analyzed results of the empirical research has shown that rural tourism in rural areas of municipality of Vrnjačka Banja can be developed by including local population. Implications - The research makes a theoretical contribution by enriching the discourse on the socio and economic prosperity of the community and tourism in rural areas. The practical implications of the paper involve contributing to the formulation future strategies for advancing rural tourism in municipality of Vrnjačka Banja. Moreover, the paper can serve as a basis for future improvements in effective rural tourism management and enhancement of the overall quality of life for the rural community in the Vrnjačka Banja municipality.

In response to increasing environmental concerns, the global tourism industry is at a critical crossroads, requiring a shift to sustainable practices for long-term viability. This paper explores the concept of eco-friendly destinations. Using detailed global case studies of Slovenia and its capital Ljubljana, Gothenburg (Sweden) and Costa Rica, successful sustainable tourism strategies and their impact on the complex interplay of social, ecological, and economic factors are examined. The study also underlines the central role of sustainability in urban destinations and highlights the comprehensive approaches of Ljubljana and Gothenburg, which are recognized as successful in sustainability. The findings underline the global importance of sustainable tourism practices and highlight the challenges, opportunities and the need for collaboration between different stakeholders. The practical implications and originality of the paper lie in providing insights and recommendations that can help destinations worldwide in pursuing a balanced and sustainable tourism model. In light of ongoing management challenges, the paper highlights increased collaboration between residents, the public and private sectors, and other stakeholders as essential to promoting sustainability. The tourism industry is facing a crucial phase where environmentally friendly strategies are not only a moral obligation, but also a strategic imperative for the durable competitiveness and resilience of destinations. The paper strives to give a complete overview and recognize that sustainable practices are not only ethical, but also essential for the future success of tourism.

Purpose -The paper aims to highlight the increasing importance of hotel environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance as a factor of sustainable competitiveness, and to assess convergence, divergence, and trends at the industry level. Methodology - A qualitative content analysis was conducted of the most recent ESG, sustainability, or responsible business reports published by eight major global hotel groups. The sample includes both integrated and franchise-heavy business models, allowing an assessment of the influence of ownership structures on ESG implementation. Findings -The results indicate that there is a profound change in the global hotel industry, where ESG performance is no longer just a side issue, but a key dimension of competitiveness. All examined hotel companies show strong commitment to ESG practices; however, different approaches are noticeable as well as the impact of ownership structure on the ESG performance. Implications -The present work complements the existing and still vague literature on hotel ESG performance by identifying emerging trends in the industry and practices adopted by the global hotel companies. It also reveals possible alternatives to other hotel companies, especially by demonstrating the relation between ownership structure and ESG practices.

16. mednarodna konferenca Logistika v kmetijstvu 2022: Konferenčni zbornik. 16. mednarodna konferenca Logistika v kmetijstvu, ki jo organizira Visoka šola za upravljanje podeželja Grm Novo mesto, Grm Novo mesto – center biotehnike in turizma, Fakulteta za logistiko Univerze v Mariboru, Občina Sevnica, Zadružna zveza Slovenije, Fakulteta za organizacijske študije v Novem mestu in Vimal Akademija. Konferenca se je odvijala v sodelovanju z Fakultete elektrotehnike i računarstva in Institutom ‘Mihajlo Pupin’, Univerze v Beogradu. Letošnja osrednja tema je ‘Digitalizacija logistike v kmetijstvu’. Konferenca je postala tradicionalna in posveča pozornost na različne poglede na logistiko v povezavi s kmetijstvom.