As the founder of Pet Travel Advisor, an innovative solution in the pet & travel industry, and with deep insight into the startup ecosystem in Serbia and the region, I recognized the need for an event that fosters meaningful discussions and drives growth in the industry. This inspired me to create a new event that brings together key stakeholders, promotes innovation, and supports the future of travel.
Travel Startup event aims to bridge the gap between the economy and tourism through innovative startup solutions that leverage information and communication technologies to enhance the sector.
The focus is on developing selective forms of tourism, including business and thematic travel, tourist transportation, and hospitality, to improve tourism offerings, increase efficiency, and enable sustainable development.
Startups in tourism not only address existing challenges but also create new value for tourists and service providers, transforming the way tourism products are developed and consumed.
Through panel discussions at the Travel Startup event, we will explore the current innovation landscape in the tourism sector, the challenges startups face, and expectations for the coming years, including EXPO 2027 as one of the key tourism events. Our goal is to identify concrete ways to further support this sector through funding, collaboration, and creative initiatives.
Event Details:
📅 Date: April 9, 2025.
📍 Location: Science and Technology Park, Novi Sad
Agenda:
🕥 10:30 AM – Participant registration
🕚 11:00 AM – Event opening
- Welcome Address – Dr. Srđan Kolaković, Director of the Science and Technology Park Novi Sad
- Opening Speech – Dr. Nenad Ivanišević, Provincial Secretary for Economy and Tourism
🕥 11:10 AM – Presentation of innovative solutions in tourism
🎤 Speaker: Andrea Mladin, Event Organizer
🕦 11:20 AM – Panel Discussion 1: “Innovations in Tourism: Trends and Opportunities”
Panelists:
- Dr. Nenad Ivanišević, Provincial Secretary for Economy and Tourism
- Jasmina Beljan-Iskrin, Director of the Tourist Organization of Vojvodina
- Prof. Dr. Srđan Milošević, Associate Professor, Faculty of Organizational Studies „Eduka“ & Member of the Council for Tourism of Vojvodina
- Branislav Mamić, Association Secretary at Chamber of Commerce and industry of Vojvodina
🕛 12:10 PM – Panel Discussion 2: “Technology and Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities in Tourism”
Panelists:
- Representatives of the Science and Technology Park and Tourism startups
🥂 1:00 PM – Networking
📝 Preliminary agenda subject to change
📢 The Travel Startup Event is designed as an opportunity to promote innovation in tourism and enhance the regional tourism offer by connecting key stakeholders and facilitating knowledge exchange.
🎯 Event Goals
Showcasing Innovations in Tourism
🔹 Promoting startups developing technological solutions for various aspects of tourism, with a focus on sustainability and competitiveness.
Tourism Enhancement
🔹 Connecting local startups and innovative ideas with the tourism industry to improve the overall tourism offer.
Networking and Collaboration
🔹 Creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between startups, businesses, academia, and the public sector through B2B events and panel discussions.
🌍 How Does the Event Contribute to Tourism Development?
💡 Promoting New Technologies and Creative Solutions
✔️ Contributing to the modernization of the tourism sector through digital innovations.
🔗 Connecting Startups with Key Industry, Academia, and Public Sector Players
🔹 Opening up opportunities for:
✅ Testing and implementing innovative solutions that support sustainable tourism development.
✅ Creating new job opportunities through the development of technological and creative projects in tourism.
✅ Enhancing tourist experiences through personalized and efficient services while increasing destination competitiveness.
🌱 Global Standards and Local Growth
✔️ The event promotes sustainability while empowering local entrepreneurs to become part of the international tourism market.
