Source: eKapija | Monday, 13.09.2010.| 15:56
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Hotel, swimming pools, sauna, fitness and rest in complex at 24,000 square meters - Novo Milosevo gets wellness and spa center worth about EUR 42m

(Karacsonyi castle)

Novo Milosevo may soon become Vojvodina's spa and wellness holiday center. If everything goes as planned by the government and local authorities, the local community of Novi Becej will get the state-of-the-arts thermal spa, number of contents that similar centers around the world have, while the castle in the middle of the complex will shine in new splendor.

The project for formation of a tourist zone and construction of a modern wellness spa center stems from an initial idea of exploiting existing natural resources and building a thermal spa in Novo Milosevo. The project team has formulated the mission for development of the future tourist destination and founded Vojvodina Spa Ltd., which is entrusted with all the activities that are necessary for the project realization.

Hotel, swimming pools, sauna...

As Vojvodina Spa's Director Djordje Popov said in an interview for eKapija, a wellness and spa center of 24,000 square meters is planned to be built for daytime guests, with the capacity of 600-800 visitors a day. It would comprise indoor and outdoor swimming pools with thermal water whose temperature will be 36 degrees Celsius, a sauna center, a fitness center, a resting place, as well as a special section for kids. Daily ticket for entrance to this center and use of all its contents should cost about EUR 12 in RSD. Only the use of the sauna center would be charged extra - about EUR 5.

In addition, construction of a parking lot on 2 ha is also in the pipeline, while the surface area of additional 3 ha is reserved for greenery, fountains, park furniture, etc.

Modeled on several similar centers in Austria, the complex should also include accommodation capacities that would make it possible for guests who fall in love with Novo Milosevo and Vojvodina at first sight to stay longer and enjoy the contents. Therefore, construction of a four-star hotel with 120 rooms is in the pipeline as well, and it should mainly include two-bed rooms and studios. In addition to a restaurant, the hotel will also comprise a "beauty" center (hairdresser's, beauty salon), massage center..

Such contents give the builders hope that this complex can have about 300,000 guests every year.

But that is not all...

In addition to thermal water, the reason why the Tourism Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia has given the highest priority to the construction of spa resorts in Vojvodina and recognized Novo Milosevo as an ideal destination is the Karacsonyi castle.

(previous look of the castle)

The most important local tourist attraction - historical Karacsonyi castle, was built by count Laosz Karacsonyi in 1857, as a classicist style residence. Today, the castle and the park around it are in a very bad condition and, in order to be used again, a voluminous restoration program is necessary. An old storage across the road from the castle has already been renovated and turned into the Ethnographic Museum.

The castle occupies the surface area of 2,500 square meters. The initial idea was that the wellness center be situated in it, but that idea was quickly abandoned because that surface was much too small for everything that is planned to be achieved.

Instead, the castle will be reconstructed and the wellness center will be situated in its vicinity. The purpose of the castle has been changed many times since its construction, and it now hosts the premises of Vojvodina Spa. It should be pointed out that the plan for change of purpose of the castle, which is on the list of protected cultural properties, includes construction of several luxury five-star suites, exclusive boutiques, congress center, casino...

It can be said that it will be a mini city. Popov was unable to specify how much money would be needed for reconstruction of the castle because that estimate would be done after the Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute completed the castle exterior reconstruction project.

Investors, projects and plans

(the zone where the center will be built)

The idea of forming a wellness and spa center dates back to 2006. After the Ministry of Economy announced the request for tender in 2008 and selected Austrian Oberer Consulting to prepare the Master Plan for Tourist Destination of Novo Milosevo, a new progress was made. That Master Plan, of which preparation worth 12 million dinars was financed by the Ministry, was adopted in October 2009, while Vojvodina Spa was formed three months later to supervise the whole project.

In August 2010, Oberer Consulting was also appointed as the adviser for this project. As Popov explains for eKapija, during the next six months, Vojvodina Spa and Oberer Consulting will make a concept for subventions, architectural preliminary concept, and business plan. After that, strategic partners will be selected by tender.

The estimate is that about 42 million euros will be needed for construction of everything mentioned above. Since funding is planned to be made possible through public-private partnership, the plan is that maximum 20% of funds be set aside from public incomes, while the financial structure should be completed by a potential investor.

Spa center - fashion or need?

Since the construction of spa centers, massage, healthy nutrition and similar themes are lately in the focus of discussions, many people ask themselves if all that has become a fashion trend or a real need.

The popularity of spa treatment is constantly growing as more and more people find daily spa rituals, massage and health care enjoyable. Spa tourism now aims at offering a new, healthier lifestyle to its clients by the rules of healthy nutrition, education on healthy habits, fitness, theme workshops, etc.

Transformation of lifestyle can be done with the help of complex programs that include spa services, physical fitness, education on wellness and regular nutrition. Therefore, people accept spa not because it becomes modern and a status symbol, but due to numerous health benefits it offers. Spa is becoming an integral part of the people's lives - it is concluded on the Internet presentation of Vojvodina Spa.

J.Đ.

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