Healing hot water and affordable lodging prices in Josanicka Banja attract skiers from Kopaonik

– Last year we had 10,579 overnight stays, and many of them were foreigners from North Macedonia, Romania and even Hungary, China and Russia, but the most interesting fact is that our capacities were full this past winter, says Dejan Koturanovic, the director of the Tourist Organization of Raska.

He further explains that during the winter Josanicka banja is becoming increasingly attractive for skiers who come to Kopaonik.

– This was thanks to the renewal of the Josanicka Banja-Kopaonik route which was open for traffic last year , so now we have a lot of skiers who come down from Kopaonik to the spa in just half an hour by car, to bathe in the outdoor pool which is available year-round. Many book lodgings in the spa, and then go to ski in Kopaonik, because it`s many times cheaper than there, Koturanovic says.

Koturanovic reminds that in the last two years they have renovated the rehabilitation bath and old hammam from the 18th century and finished landscaping the spa park with the help of Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications and the Raska Municipality.

– Rehabilitation bath now has a Community health center with a physical medicine and rehabilitation department with a medical specialist and two physical therapists. There are also a smaller indoor pool with thermomineral water, hydromassage bathtubs and a jacuzzi. In addition, last year we finished the last phase of landscaping the entire spa park. We started the first two phases of construction of the sewerage system, fixed up the river bed from the mouth of the river Samokovka as it enters Josanica and the branches of Josanica and Samokovka, as well as the promenade along the waterfront. After the summer season is over, we plan to do landscaping downstream of Josanica towards the entrance to the spa.

According to Koturanovic, Josanicka Banja now has around 250 beds of different categories, which is 70 more than in 2021, because the investments have extended to the private sector as well, and now visitors can book private lodgings in apartment buildings that have their own spa centers and healing how water pools.

– The local government got the authorization for exploitation of thermal waters and the next step is to determine its intended use. We are planning heating in the buildings and the greenhouse and we are also considering indoor pools, because that would bring even more tourists, Koturanovic says.

He adds that they are still looking for a strategic partner for the old hotel that was the subject of a dispute between the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund and Genex.

– Now the ownership rights are clear, the Republic Directorate for Property owns the hotel, but the municipality is still searching for an investor to renovate it, Koturanovic says and adds that the greatest issue for Josanicka Banja is the small area of public land owned by the municipality and the state, because it`s mostly fragmented private parcels here.

When asked about the many times mentioned construction of a gondola lift from Josanicka Banja to Kopaonik, Koturanovic says that currently there is still work on the amendments to the Spacial Plan of the Kopaonik National Park, but that it sadly doesn`t list the gondola lift among the priority plans.

– This plan is in effect for the period until 2023, and so for the next ten year, gondola lift to Kopaonik is not the priority in the urban planning, our interviewee says.

Koturanovic points out that they are expecting even larger number of tourists in the upcoming summer and winter seasons and they are planning to set up a daily tourist bus that would connect Josanicka Banja and Kopaonik in summer and in the winter.

Memorial room dedicated to Milunka Savic

Dejan Koturanovic reminds that the visitors can also see the Memorial complex dedicated to the Serbian WWI heroine, Milunka Savic, located in the centre of Josanicka Banja and reconstructed two years ago and visit the memorial room with a multimedia exhibition and an interactive mosaic consisting of Milunka`s photos which reveal the authentic shots from WWI.

– The exhibition gets a lot of visitors, we have organized school tours visiting, but also guests from Josanicka Banja and Kopaonik, Koturanovic says. He adds that Milunka`s births house in Koprivnica village was also renovated and that they have a prepared project for paving the road up to the house but that they we still waiting for funding.

When it comes to events, apart from the Days of Milunka Savic, held every first week of October, the tourist organization is planning to set up various entertaining programmes in Josanicka Banja and Kopaonik during the summer this year, such as children entertainment events, various workshops and concerts.

Branislava Petrovic