Healthcare systems worldwide are facing problems in providing health care to patients in a pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). The pandemic causes an extreme disease to spread with fluctuating needs among patients, which significantly affect the capacity and overall performance of healthcare systems. In addition, its impact on the sustainability of the entire economic and social system is enormous and certain sustainable management strategies need to be selected. To meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure sustainable performance, national healthcare systems must adapt to new circumstances. This paper proposes an original multi-criteria methodology for the sustainable selection of strategic guidelines for the reorganization of a healthcare system under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The selection of an appropriate strategic guideline is made on the basis of defined criteria and depending on infection capacity and pandemic spread risk. The criteria for the evaluation of strategic guidelines were defined on the basis of a survey in which the medical personnel engaged in the crisis response team during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Serbia participated. The Level-Based Weight Assessment (LBWA) model and Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical-Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH) method were used to determine the weight coefficient criteria, while a novel fuzzy Ranking of Alternatives through Functional Mapping of Criterion Subintervals into a Single Interval (RAFSI) model was used to evaluate the strategic guidelines. The proposed multi-criteria methodology was tested in a case study in the Republic of Serbia. The validity of the proposed methodology is shown through the simulation of changes in input parameters of Bonferroni aggregation functions and through a comparison with other multi-criteria methodologies.

The study focuses on the significance of empowering women, which plays a crucial role in the sustainable transformation of rural communities. It highlights the relevance of rural tourism as both an indicator of women’s livelihoods and a catalyst for meaningful change. Increasingly, women are forming associations that not only foster positive interactions among themselves but also extend their influence to other women within their communities. The research aimed to address two key questions: “What actions would you undertake in the realm of rural tourism?” and “What does the advancement of rural tourism mean for you on a personal level?” To analyze the data, factor analysis was employed to categorize the variables alongside structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings identified six distinct factors and demonstrated the interrelationship among these factors. The findings indicate that women willingly choose to participate in rural tourism, predominantly involving activities related to domestic food and beverages, tourism and hospitality, and the production and sale of souvenirs. This addresses the first inquiry. The responses to the second inquiry identified factors such as empowerment, independence, and development. This supports the initial hypothesis H, which posits that rural tourism acts as a measure of women’s empowerment, resulting in significant changes within the rural communities in which these women reside. The research outcomes are relevant to all rural regions in Serbia and its vicinity, where women’s roles are often marginalized and a transformation is essential.

This paper proposes a new integrated model based on SWOT and extended PIvot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment (PIPRECIA) that offers a systematic approach to strategic planning in tourism. The applicability of the proposed integrated model is demonstrated through a case study defining the main determinants of tourism development in Serbia. The result emphasizes the strategy Improving the organization, management, and enhancement of tourism development as the highest priority for implementation. The model facilitates decision-making in tourism, and its key advantages are its suitability for application in group decision-making and its simplicity.

Rapid development of eco-tourism is reflected in an almost equally rapid growth in the number of researchers who draw attention to potentially detrimental and destructive consequences of tourism growth. Sustainable tourism and eco-tourism destinations are crucially important for sustainable development, which has emerged as a logical need to stop the accelerated economic growth based on unlimited exploitation of available resources. In this paper, the focus is on the ecological aspects of sustainable tourism development, with a special emphasis on the application of ecotourism in ecotourism destinations and the motivation of tourists in ecotourism. Ecotourism represents a specific form of tourism aimed at preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable development. Ecotourism destinations are of particular importance in the promotion of ecological principles in tourism. In this paper, the paper analyzes the factors applied in ecotourism, with the aim of improving the sustainable development of tourism. Also, the motives of tourists for participating in ecotourism are considered, as well as the ways in which ecotourism destinations can improve their offer in order to attract tourists. Special emphasis is placed on the ecological aspects of the sustainable development of tourism and the ways in which tourism can influence the preservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

The brand represents valuable intangible assets and one of the most important resources that offers a number of benefits and therefore the brand must be constantly built and carefully managed. Through marketing efforts, companies try to create a strong and recognizable brand, which is actually something that exists in the minds of customers. Creation of a brand implies a number of activities: designing the brand elements, a unique trademark, characteristic propaganda messages and other activities aimed to position the brand on the market. The process of creating the market value of a brand aims to maximize the value of the brand itself. The three most important models in the brand planning and creating process are: brand positioning model, brand resonance model and brand value chain model.

This study presents a practical framework for the maximal covering location problem (MCLP) under uncertainty. The approach combines possibility theory with chance-constrained programming to represent both imprecision and randomness in demand. Demand is modeled as fuzzy random variables. Using the Zadeh extension principle, both the fuzzy and fuzzy random formulations are transformed into equivalent deterministic mixed-integer programs. Clear linearization steps are provided for the objective function and constraints. Two specifications are examined to reflect different attitudes toward risk. The first specification uses possibility measures, reflecting an optimistic stance, while the second uses necessity measures and represents a conservative approach. Computational experiments conducted in an urban facility context show that increasing the possibility or probability level results in more conservative solutions and a smaller amount of covered demand. In contrast, lower thresholds lead to more exhaustive coverage with greater exposure to uncertainty. In the deterministic scenario, full coverage becomes attainable as the number of facilities increases. Under uncertainty, the models balance coverage with robustness based on the chosen risk tolerance levels. The proposed framework serves as a flexible decision support tool, enabling planners to align facility location choices with their risk tolerance while maintaining tractability with standard optimization solvers.