Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said late yesterday at the opening of the renovated hotel Izvor in Arandjelovac that Serbia has potential to develop spa tourism and that it is time for its revitalisation.

Cvetkovic called on investors to invest in other spas in Serbia, and pointed out that next year is the 200th anniversary of existence of Bukovicka spa.

It is a great jubilee which shows a long tradition of spa tourism. It is often thought that Serbia is not a significant tourist destination like some other countries that have sea and mountains. However, we can be proud of spa tourism, the Prime Minister said.

He explained that businessmen have recognised this and it is this hotel in Arandjelovac that confirms that it is time for Serbia to start with revitalisation of spa tourism.

The support in this undertaking must be provided by local communities and the Serbian government as well, which is what it is doing on this occasion, Cvetkovic concluded.

The five-star hotel Izvor in Arandjelovac has been opened after seven years of reconstruction.

This is the first luxurious conference, spa and wellness centre in Serbia, whose reconstruction cost €35 million.

The hotel can host 550 guests and has 165 rooms. The completely new facility has three equipped conference rooms, six swimming pools, wellness and spa centres, which can host at the same time approximately 3,500 people.