Improving the environment in Vojvodina in order to adapt to climate change and reduce the risk of natural disasters eng

September 28, 2021

Development of Water Tourism on Waterways Connecting Hungary and Serbia (WATERTOUR)

  • Project code: HUSRB/1602/31/0204 (WATERTOUR)
  • Project duration: 1 May 2018 – 31 October 2019
  • Funding institution: European Union, Interreg-IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Hungary–Serbia
  • Total project budget: EUR 464,553.77, of which EUR 394,870.70 is the EU (IPA) contribution
  • Implementing institution: University of Szeged (Szegedi Tudományegyetem), Hungary – Lead Beneficiary
  • Project leader at the Faculty of Sciences: Dr Kristina Košić
  • Project team (Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management): Dr Kristina Košić, Dr Imre Nađ, Dr Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski, Dr Aleksandra Dragin and Dr Miroslav Vujičić
  • Contact (Lead Beneficiary): Gábor Szabó, Rector, University of Szeged, Dugonics tér 13, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; rektor@rekt.szte.hu; tel. +36 62 544 001

About the Project

WATERTOUR aims to encourage the development of water tourism and to research and promote the shared traditions and cultural heritage of Hungary and Serbia. Its research covers the natural and social values of the Tisza River area and of the natural and artificial waterways in the Tisza basin.

The project combines sport, eco and cultural tourism, and its water tours for students from Hungarian and Serbian universities are designed as model programmes for lasting cooperation. In this way, the project supports the integrating role of the rivers and of Vojvodina in the cross-border region, and Serbia's preparation for full EU membership.

Project Objectives

  • to encourage engagement in water tourism;
  • to research and promote the shared traditions and cultural heritage of Hungary and Serbia;
  • to explore the natural and social resources along the Tisza River and the waterways in its basin;
  • to develop a joint tourism and marketing strategy and action plan for the cross-border region, with recommendations for regional marketing;
  • to help tourism stakeholders create joint tour packages and services linking attractions on both sides of the border;
  • to organise water tours that bring together students from Hungarian and Serbian universities as model cooperation programmes.

Project Partners

  • Serbia (University of Novi Sad): Faculty of Sciences – Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management; Faculty of Sport and Physical Education; Hungarian Language Teacher Training Faculty, Subotica
  • Hungary (University of Szeged): Institute of Physical Education and Sport Science; Institute of Applied Social Sciences and Minority Policy; Institute of Applied Sciences; Department of Economic and Social Geography

Activities and Events

  • 12–13 September 2018 – Study trip on the Hungarian section of the Tisza River, Szeged – Csongrád – Szeged (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 5 October 2018 – Project meeting, Institute of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Szeged (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 12 October 2018 – Project team working meeting, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Novi Sad (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 28 February 2019 – Project opening conference, Szent-Györgyi Albert Agóra, Szeged (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 1 March 2019 – Workshop “Historical and Ethnographic Heritage in the Tisza Valley”, Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, Szeged (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 5 April 2019 – Workshop “Physical Geographical and Ecological Values in the Valley of the River Tisza”, Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, Szeged (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 24 April 2019 – Workshop “Rural and Ethno Tourism in the Tisza Valley”, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 26 April 2019 – Workshop “Society and Economy in the Tisza Valley”, University of Szeged (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 23 May 2019 – Workshop and forum, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad (report in Serbian, PDF)
  • 12 September 2019 – Conference “Tourism in the Tisza Valley”, Rectorate Building, University of Novi Sad Campus (report in Serbian, PDF)

Project Results

The project website presents the following results:

  • WATERTOUR Strategy (in English);
  • WATERTOUR brochure;
  • Tisza Catalogue;
  • WATERTOUR guide;
  • mobile application;
  • a pilot programme of sport, recreational, tourism and cultural activities, with stages in Serbia and Hungary, including a kayak and canoe pilot tour.

Useful Links

This project is co-financed by the European Union. The content of this page is the sole responsibility of the Faculty of Sciences – Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union and/or the Managing Authority.