New tourist complex at geothermal spring in "Devojački bunar" - municipality of Alibunar prepares 200 ha for investors

"Devojački bunar", the most attractive tourist location in Deliblatska sand pit, is lately in the focus of attention of both visitors who enjoy the charms of this picnic grounds and local and foreign investors. Namely, the municipality of Alibunar, which owns the northwest part of Vojvodina's oasis, is working on the new spatial plan that will anticipate construction of sports-rehabilitation and hunting center at about 200 ha of land. In one year, at the latest, potential investors will be presented the terms and possibilities of investments in "Devojački bunar" - Ivica Rosić, the Secretary of Economy in the municipality of Alibunar, told "eKapija".

- Construction of hotels, holiday hostels, catering facilities, and even golf course, is in the pipeline because the ambient and topography are suitable for that sport. Geothermal springs represent special advantage. According to the research done by NIS "Naftagas", the springs have been discovered at the depth of 600 meters, and their temperature is about 27 degrees. The whole territory of Deliblatska sand pit has plenty of geothermal springs, which are rich with highly radioactive iodine and suitable for bathing. The first negotiations on future investments have started, and there are even interested investors from Switzerland - said Rosić and pointed out that the municipality was interested in public-private partnerships.

"Devojački bunar" currently comprises about 1,200 weekend cottages, as well as hotel, conference, sport and wellness capacities. The tourist offer is made even richer by numerous manifestations that are held during the whole year such as "Prvomajski uranak", "Sabor pčelara", "Zlatna udica", "Hajka na banatsku lisicu", "Likovna kolonija"...

The contents of the picnic grounds include pedestrian walks, trim tracks, fields for handball and football, and there is also a playground for the kids, which was built in 2008. The existing swimming pool is one of the main attractions in summer period. The regional spatial plan of Deliblatska sand pit includes the possibility of forming horse farm in the location of "Devojački bunar" for the sake of development of equestrian sport.

Unique nature reserve with specific flora and fauna, general ecological conditions, eolian relief and the characteristics of micro climate attract people to enjoy the boons of "Devojački bunar". Another advantage of the picnic grounds is the vicinity of large city center - Belgrade, Pančevo and Vršac.

Tourist potentials of Alibunar

According to the words of Rosić, tourism in the municipality of Alibunar does not have a long tradition, but, over the last few years, the focus is placed on improvement of the terourist offer. There are several hotels in that municipality at the moment - "Plava dama", "Stari lovac", "Zlatni Bor", as well as boarding house "Goranski dom" and several bungalows.

The municipality of Alibunar has identified the area of village Šumarak, with hunting grounds of that village, and village Dubovac as potential tourist locations, as well as certain parts of villages of Šušara, Zagajačka Brda and Dumača. Some of the areas have already been activated in the field of tourism - "Devojački bunar" and "Čardak", and they are situated in the border zone of the protected nature preserve.

(hotel Plava Dama)

- Rich flora and fauna give this area a huge potential for development of hunting tourism, as well as the opportunity for production of healthy food and commercialization of wild herbs and fruits - said Rosić.

The most developed branch of tourism in Alibunar is hunting tourism. The hunting grounds, which are of typical Panonian type, occupy major part of the municipal territory - 53,436 ha. The private sector owns 57% of them, while 43% of hunting grounds are in the possession of the state.

Spa tourism

The second tourist potential of the municipality of Alibunar is DTD canal near Janošik. According to already finished Land-Utilization Plan, a space for construction of spa resort should be organized at the area of 38 ha. In addition to facilities for treatment and rehabilitation, that spa resort would also comprise tourist facilities and facilities for sport and recreation. As the people from the municipality of Alibunar explained, it is necessary for the analysis of existing water to be repeated, as well as to refresh activities related to construction of the center that would be used for health care and sports-recreational purposes. The position of the spa resort, alongside DTD canal, would be of great significance because tourist contents could be supplemented by development of nautical and fishing tourism.

The territory of South Banat is dominated by the Danube, Tamiš, Nera, Karaš, Brzava and Moravica rivers, great DTD canal in the vicinity of Banatska Palanka, and large number of lakes, the most famous of which is in Bela Crkva. The Danube's flow is still unexploited tourist potential. Besides navigational and bathing functions, its branches and backwaters have the predispositions for development of sport fishing. River islands are suitable for fishing, combined sports-recreational activities on land and in water, while its banks represent great habitats for hunting game and enable development of hunting tourism.

Advantage of geographic position

Municipality of Alibunar is situated in the central part of South Banat's plain, between fertile cultivated fields and Alibunar's and Ilidža's swamp. International road E-70 Belgrade-Vršac-Timisoara goes through the municipality of Alibunar. As a part of the international road, the municipality of Alibunar is connected to Belgrade - 56km, Pančevo - 35km, and Vršac - 33km. The road was thoroughly reconstructed in 2007 and it is in excellent condition. Such position and vicinity of the airport (60km), the Danube (40km) and city centers ensure broad tourist offer that includes recreational, picnic and wellness tourism in the location of Devojački bunar, as well as hunting and fishing tourism on the whole territory of the municipality.