FOLKLORE MANIFESTATIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF CULTURAL TOURISM IN VOJVODINA

Tourist offers play an important role in the society of the modern consumer. Tourism represents the act of traveling for the purpose of recreation, as well as obtaining services to achieve that goal. Tourism is a service industry, which is made up of a number of tangible and intangible elements. A tourist is a person who travels at least eighty kilometers from the place of permanent residence for the purpose of recreation, as defined by the World Tourism Organization (part of the United Nations). Tangible elements include transportation systems - air, rail, road, water and more recently, space; catering services - accommodation, food and drinks, tours, souvenirs, etc. The intangible elements are: rest and relaxation, culture, adventure, new and different experiences. In addition to a greater number of different tourist offers and consumer interests, the development of cultural truism is increasingly significant. This is due to the fact that today tourists are not satisfied only with a vacation in nature, in the sun, but also with other contents and activities. An increasing number of tourists are interested in tourist manifestations, which show the achievements, beliefs, traditions, and way of life of the ethnically heterogeneous population of the selected destinations. In addition to museums and monuments, there is a growing interest in gastronomic specialties of traditional dishes, music, dance, song. The expansion of cultural exchange at the national and international level through the participation of folklore ensembles at festivals in the country and abroad become the bearers of the tourist offer. The aim of the paper is to show the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents for interest in folklore events that are part of cultural identity and the potential of tradition as a driver of tourist offers. Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 42 respondents in the territory of Vojvodina. The questionnaire consisted of 100 different questions classified into 4 groups. The questionnaire used in this research was based on Delamere’s scale (Delamere et al., 2001), which was modified and shortened for the purpose of more efficient interviewing. The presented research results are presented in tabular and graphical form and obtained on the basis of processed data using descriptive, comparative methods. At the end of the research, the conclusion was drawn that the interest of the younger population in visiting folklore festivals and recognizing folk dances is increasing. The interviewees stated that the most important elements for recognizing the elements of folk tradition are songs, dances and costumes. The motive that attracts cultural visitors is the rich - historical heritage of Vojvodina as a destination for folklore festivals. The destination of the folklore festival is important to potential visitors, as is its character. Based on everything, a general conclusion can be drawn that the development of folklore events can significantly improve cultural tourism and support the development of especially rural areas.