Importance of the valorisation of Serbian cultural and historical heritage of Kosovo and Metohija in the tourism development process

Abstract

In the territory of Kosovo and Metohija there are important preconditions for the development of tourism as a specific economic activity. However, the premise for the development of pertaining plans is the preservation of cultural and historical heritage of Serbian and other ethnic groups in this area. Tourist valorisation is certainly one of the most important issues of tourism theory. The paper highlights the importance of protecting Serbian heritage and the heritage of other ethnic groups living in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. The paper has significant pragmatic value as it provides the foundation for defining the strategy of the necessary valorization of cultural and historical heritage from cultural and economic perspectives. Valorisation is important in order to clearly define the priorities in preserving the rich cultural heritage for future generations, while acknowledging the unresolved political issue regarding the status of the province. In the process of normalising relations between Belgrade and Priština with the help of international community there is a clear and urgent need to create adequate models for protection of the Serbian heritage. The paper concludes that the process of valorisation in the current conditions of Kosovo is a very expensive and complicated task, which will make it difficult to implement in the near future. The paper calls for a wider discussion, one that will satisfy all interested parties, about tourist valorisation of rich cultural and historical heritage in this territory.

Keywords

• Cultural and historical objects
• Valorisation
• Tourism
• Cultural diversity