Possibility of Application of Geothermal Energy in Sustainable Development of Spa Tourism in Serbia

The issue of environmental protection and the use of renewable energy sources in order to achieve environmentally sustainable business, is becoming an unavoidable topic today. Geothermal energy is one of the most promising forms of renewable energy sources whose use dates back to the distant past. The existence of the possibility of using the mentioned renewable sources, especially within the framework of spa tourism, represents the basis of sustainable business. The Republic of Serbia has a huge potential for the use of geothermal energy, especially when it comes to the tourism sector. The Republic of Serbia has a large number of geothermal mineral springs, but they are insufficiently used. The largest consumers of geothermal sources are the industrial sector and agriculture, while in tourism these resources are barely used. In recent decades, health, wellness and spa tourism have become one of the fastest growing tourism sectors globally. Tourism based on the use of geothermal energy represents a development opportunity which is in line with the Tourism Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2016 - 2025. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential and current application of geothermal energy in spa tourism in the Republic of Serbia. For this purpose, the authors will consider two distinct locations the Jokin Grab Spa and Vranjska Banja.