PROMOTION OF ROYAL SPAS OF SERBIA AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 30 September 2009 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted a reception at the White Palace in honour of a new brand of Serbian Tourism – The Royal Spas of Serbia, and accompanying book with the same title, this afternoon. There are eight famous Royal spas in Serbia – Vrnjacka Banja, Banja Koviljaca, Ribarska banja, Brestovacka Banja, Bukovicka Banja, Niska Banja, Sokobanja and Vranjska Banja, which were frequently visited by our Royal Families in the 19th and beginning of 20th century for their excellence.

During the official opening speeches were delivered by: HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, Mr Dejan Jovanovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy and regional development, Ms Ljiljana Rebronja, editor-in-chief of “Touristic world” magazine and author of the project and Dr Dejan Stanojevic, President of the Managing Board of Serbian spas Association.

Among numerous guests, there were members of diplomatic corps: H.E. Ms Claire Birgin, Ambassador of Australia, H.E. Mr. Nils Krister Bringeus, Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Dante Coehlo de Lima, Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Luis de Almeida Sampaio, Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Georgi Dimitrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria, H.E. Ms Mercedes Martinez Valdez, Ambassador of Cuba, H.E. Mr. Erwin Helmut Hofer, Ambassador of Switzerland, H.E. Ms Hana Hubackova, Ambassador of Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Clemens Koja, Ambassador of Austria, H.E. Ms Mercedes Felicitas Ruiz Zapata, Ambassador of Mexico, H.E. Eugenio Sbarbaro, Apostolic Nuncio.

Addressing the numerous guests HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, the Patron of the Project, stated: “When Ms Rebronja invited me to be the patron of this project earlier this year, I accepted it with great pleasure. Tourism, and especially health and congress tourism is good for Serbia. The Royal spas of Serbia deserve to become a gem in the crown of Serbian tourism”.

Mr Dejan Jovanovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy and regional development addressed the guests on behalf of the Government of Serbia: “On behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, I would like to thank the Royal Family for supporting this important project, which we also supported as a Ministry. Any Royal Spa in Serbia could be a great touristic attraction for any region. Government of Serbia will continue to build touristic capacities, roads and infrastructure. I would like to emphasize that this project, The Royal Spas of Serbia, is among the biggest projects in Serbian tourism this year.”

Ms Ljiljana Rebronja, author of the project said: “From today’s perspective it might look surreal, but our Royal Spas were cultural and mondaine centres of Serbia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, very much like centres in Europe. Due to very healing characteristics of their waters, and good air, very distinguished guests came to these spas, together with members of our ruling dynasties, Karadjordjevic and Obrenovic. Not just to relax and heal, but also to conduct state business from the spas”.

Dr Dejan Stanojevic, President of the Managing Board of Serbian Spas Association said: “It is my honour to greet you on behalf of Association of Serbian spas, which will mark the valuable anniversary next year, 40 years of existence. For all these years we have had the ultimate goal set to us by the rulers of Serbia – to promote our spas. Most of the Royal spas preserved the most important things for any spa – preserve nature, clean air and silence.”

At the end of the official ceremony, Mr Vladan Veskovic, Secretary of the Association of Serbian Spas, handed over vouchers for sixteen children with disabilities to HRH Crown Princess Katherine. Those children will be invited by HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation to visit Royal Spas of Serbia for rehabilitation.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine warmly thanked the Royal spas of Serbia for their generosity: “Thank you very, very much for this wonderful gift. I am very happy that sixteen of our children with disabilities would be able to go to Royal spas of Serbia, and to have a real Royal treatment there”.