The Impact of the Consumption of Hazardous Chemicals on the Development of Agritourism in Serbia

The primary attention in considering the fact that the percentage of hazardous chemicals consumption is inversely proportionate to the quality of ecological potential as one of the basic principles of rural development, which has direct implications for the development of agritourism, the research into the consumption of hazardous chemicals covering the period from 2011 to 2015 in the Republic of Serbia in comparison to EU 28 was conducted. The research was focused on the consumption of hazardous chemicals by divisions of Classification of activities, the consumption of hazardous chemicals by toxicity classes (A-E), and the analysis of the hazardous chemicals consumption by regions in the Republic of Serbia. The results obtained reveal the consumption of all hazardous chemicals classes per capita in Serbia is significantly lower than in the EU, and that the share of the most toxic classes is lower. Additionally, the trend of hazardous chemicals consumption is decreasing in Serbia, and stagnates in the EU. Particularly low consumption is registered in Southern and Eastern region as well as Sumadia and Western region, pointing out at the potential of these regions for development of agritourism based on this fact. 1 University Business Academy, Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary, Novi Sad; jela_sup@yahoo.com 2 University Business Academy, Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary, Novi Sad 3 Educons University, Faculty of Project and Innovation Management, Belgrade 4 Novi Sad School of Business, Novi Sad 5 High Economic School of Profesional Studies, Leposavić Matijašević-Obradović J. et al.: The Impact of the Consumption of Hazardous... 168 Industrija, Vol.45, No.3, 2017


Introduction
Tourism is purposeful, planned and motivated behaviour, for which the expectations of traveller play a major role in decision-making about travelling.Therefore attitudes and motives, as well as the needs of tourists are very important (Wall & Mathison, 2006).The role of tourism in local economic development is a topic of critical importance (Rogerson & Rogerson, 2014;Spilanis, Kizos & Spilanis, 2016, p. 161).Owing to these features of tourism, it can, to a certain extent, be seen as a connection point between urban and rural environments.
A considerable potential for the growth of tourism in Serbia concerns rural areas as such, where there is an additional potential for organic production of food with an authentic note of the area where it is produced.In this respect, agritourism is a new tourism section based on relatively small agricultural farms, whose activities are rooted in the local traditions.
Rural areas take about 85% of the entire territory of Serbia.More than a half of the total population (55%) of Serbia is located in the rural areas.Population density on rural areas of Serbia is 63 inhabitants per square kilometre (according to OECD, areas with up to 150 inhabitants per km² are considered rural).Rural areas are home to the majority of natural wealth of the country (agricultural land, forests, water resorces) with rich ecosystems and biodiversity.The Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development for the period 2014-2024 (Official Gazette of RS, No. 85/2014), emphasises the positive shift made in the recent years in organic production, wine production, production of products with geographical indication of origin and agritourism.The guiding principle of the rural development in general, rural development in Serbia included, is the fact that sustainable rural tourism development must be economically viable while preserving the natural, social and cultural characteristics of tourist destinations.In the context of the previously stated, among other things, significant impact on the development of rural areas has also the consumption of hazardous chemicals in individual areas of the country.According to the official definition, a chemical is any element, chemical compound or mixture of its elements and/or compounds (Bulletin, 2016, p. 11), while hazardous chemicals differ by their toxicity level.
In addition to the relevant theoretical definitions, the study will include an analysis of the hazardous chemicals consumption in Serbia in comparison to EU in order to asses the potential for development of agrotourism promoted on the basis of low toxic chemicals consumption.However, due to long lasting economic chrisis in Serbia the level of industial processing in Serbia was quite law in comparison to developed countries.This fact implies also lower consumption of hazardous chemicals that can be an element of compeptitive advantage for developement of agrotiurism in Serbia.The aim of this investigation is to compare the consumption of hazardous chemicals in Serbia and EU as the target market for agrotourism services from Serbia.The comparison was conducted for five years period (2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) and includes analysis by toxicity classes and by the regions of Serbia.

Literature review
Understanding any phenomenon requires a basic understanding of its fundamental defining characteristics (Philip, Hunter & Blackstock, 2010, p. 754).Agritourism is not a new phenomenon, it has been recognized worldwide since early twentieth century (Gil Arroyo, Barbiery & Rozier Rich, 2013, p. 39).Essential issues for agritourism, as a component for integral sustainable development of agriculture, are healthy diet of tourists accompanied with spending of time in a healthy environment (Pejanović and Vujović, 2008, p. 6).According to Wilson, Thilmany & Sullins (2006, p. 1), agritourism includes all activities that connect visitors with the natural resources, heritage and unique culinary experiences from the local agricultural industry.There is a number of definitions of agritourism utilized by scholars and practitioners.Sometimes it is called also farm-based tourism, or farm tourism., Most definitions include diferent services, educational or leisure activity that take place on a farm (Tew & Barbieri, 2012).The very term agritourism indicates the inextricable interdependence of tourism and agriculture, focusing more and more on a type of tourism that provides tourists with healthy organic food and an opportunity to spend time in a healthy environment, thus offering support to sustainable development (Vujovic, 2007).
General tourism was initially thought of as an industry "capable of promoting both growth and equity because of its intensive use of local inputs and unskilled labor" (Mansury & Hara, 2007, p. 213).It was later discovered, however, that "the inability of the local community to fully participate in tourism activities results in a highly-unequal distribution of the gains" (Mansury & Hara, 2007, p. 213).Accordintg to Zhenhua (2003, pp. 465-466) "in less developed countries in particular, poverty and social desperation necessitate a great need for the local community to benefit from tourism development, but the inability of the host population to fully participate in the development process results in the lion's share of tourism income being taken away or 'leaked' out from the destination".In studies of agritourism, scholars have found that "incorporating agritourism activities into the overall profit structure can bring a number of economic and noneconomic benefits to farmers" (Kline, Barbieri & La Pan, 2016, p. 644).
Considering the lack of a uniform definition of agritourism in both national and international literature, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development defines agritourism as part of rural tourism divided into: agritourism, ecotourism, adventure and excursion tourism.More narrowly, agritourism is defined as a tourist activity that is conudcted by farms owned by the families, i.e. agricultural producers, while other mentioned forms of rural tourism are not as often organised by farms, although they can be (Brščić et al., 2010).Agritourism can also be defined as the visit for pleasure, education or active involvement in specific activities to the farm or any othe enterprise being involved in agribusiness, agricultural or horticultural activities (Petroman & Petroman, 2010).It can also be defined as attraction of the visitors or travellers to the areas with primarily agricultural purposes (Blacka et al., 2009).
Agritourism in Serbia is defined as offering "rural surroundings" to a tourist through provision of unique experience of people, culture and natureand enabling him to enjoys in a authentic way of rural life.Agritourism is based on the principles of sustainability.It includes a number of services and activities that characterize the given rural area and the way of life of the inhabitants of the particular rural area (Đorđević-Milošević and Milovanović, 2012).According to Babović (2008), agritourism is an additional profession and supplementary source of income in the rural areas, By purchase of food and other products tourists provide work for the population in the rural areas and thus create basis for rural development from the economic point of view.As for tourism in general, positive economic impacts of agritourism can be direct, including supplementing individual earnings, community income and nonfinancial elements such as improved infrastructure; indirect or secondary, including increased earnings from non-tourism sectors linked to tourist activities; and dynamic or induced, e.g., tourism workers' consumption (Butler & Rogerson, 2016;Spilanis et al., 2016).
There is a growing list of agritourism activities.It includes a variety experiences of a tourist as a participant, student, and spectator.These activities can consist of diverse outdoor recreation activities like hunting, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife photography, educational activites like farm tours and help on the farm, cooking classes and wine tasting and entertainment including diverse festivals or guided tours and enjoying in hospitality services.From the agrotorism activities benefit also the on-farm direct sales and, off-the-farm direct sales that generate additional income for the population (Wilson, Thilmany & Sullins, 2006).The main attractions of agritourism are the experience of life and work on a farm and authentic products, together with the supporting services (Ramiro et al., 1999), that offers the experience of a real agricultural environment (Mansury & Hara, 2007) Agritourism is increasingly being viewed as a 'desirable diversifier' in this context for local and regional economies, not least because one positive externality of tourism growth is its role in increasing the supply of local services as well as the less obvious social contribution of tourism to expanding local leisure spaces, especially in marginalized, peripheral regions (Butler & Rogerson, 2016).
Rural tourism is one of the main priorities of touristic development in many European countries (Darau, Corneliu, Brad & Avram, 2010).The development of agrotourism comprises from a multi-functional rural area development.It includes healthy food production based on the available resources, demographic revival, diverse non-agricultural activities, infrastructure development, enhacemnet of education, culture, and preservation of ecological environment.The development not only of the farms, but also the small and medium enterprises boosting agricultural production and advisory services is crucial for the success of the concept.The creation of economic, social and cultural conditions for rural development is also neccerssary (Veselinović and Ignjatijević, 2013, p. 146).
In this context, it is important to note the basic principles of rural development (Table 1).For succesful development of agritourism on farms it is neccassary to fulfil both: the tourists' requirements and the expectations of attitudes of providers of agritourism services.According to Darau et al. (2010, p. 41) "agro tourism is performed in the rural environment, using local resources (natural, cultural and human)", as well touristic equipments and provisions, including boarding houses and agritouristic farms.
Agritourism is seen as a "regenerate factor of rural economies and, at the same time, as an element for preserving the rural environment" (Pirnea, Lanfranchi & Giannetto, 2012, p. 176).Therefore, besides adequate transport infrastructure, ethno-traditional and cultural objects and facilities, and controlled sanitary conditions (Veselinović and Ignjatijević, 2013, p. 146), the main condition for the development and improvement of agritourism is healthy environment in all its segments.Agritourism is seen as a "regenerate factor of rural economies and, at the same time, as an element for preserving the rural environment" (Pirnea, Lanfranchi & Giannetto, 2012, p. 176).Therefore, besides adequate transport infrastructure, ethno-traditional and cultural objects and facilities, and controlled sanitary conditions (Veselinović and Ignjatijević, 2013, p. 146), the main condition for the development and improvement of agritourism is healthy environment in all its segments.
In this context, it is important to analyse hazardous chemicals consumption in individual regions of the Republic of Serbia, and analyse the existing ecological conditions for the development and improvement of rural tourism in the given parts of the country, because many chemical risks are related to agriculture.According to Selin (2009, p. 3) "while some important progress in addressing problems of hazardous chemicals can be noted at the international level and in specific countries, a large number of chemicals still pose unacceptable environmental and human health risks around the globe" becaude "many hazardous chemicals management issues are linked with expanding industrialization and growing consumption" (Geiser, 2001;Selin, 2009, p. 7).
For additional clarification, in accordance with the official data (Bulletin, 2016, pp. 11-12), hazardous chemicals are divided into five toxicity classes by the degree of toxicity: Class Acarcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction (CMR), Class Bchronically toxic, Class Cvery toxic, Class D toxic, and Class Eharmful.Hazardous chemicals are characteristicterized with the features presented in Table 2. Bioaccumulation Accumulatiion of hazardous substances that have been released into the environment through the same mechanism as the nutrients in thel living organisms over time.It is characterized with higher expression in older member of a than a younger member that was exposed for shorter time.4 Biomagnification Biological process of passing of the accumulated hazardous chemicals through the food web and the magnification of their accumulation in higher trophic level species including humans.
Source: Selin, 2009, p. 8 A carcinogenic chemical is a chemical which if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin may cause cancer or increase its incidence.A mutagenic chemical is a chemical which if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin may induce heritable genetic damage or increase its incidence.A chemical toxic for reproduction, a reprotoxicant, is a chemical which if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin may induce heritable harmful effects in offspring and/or impair male or female reproductive functions and/or decrease their capacities or increase incidence thereof.A chemical that causes sensitization is a chemical that, if inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can cause a hypersensitivity reaction, while prolonged exposure to such a chemical can cause characteristic harmful effects.A very toxic chemical is a chemical that in very small quantities, if it is inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin, causes death, acute or chronic health damage.A toxic chemical is a chemical that in small quantities, if it is inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin, causes death, acute or chronic health damage.A harmful chemical is a chemical that, if it is inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin, causes death, acute or chronic health damage.
Many hazardous chemicals are persistent and remain in the environment and human bodies for a long time.Scientific studies show that persistent organic pollutants may remain in the natural environment for decades (Rodan, Pennington, Eckley & Boethling, 1999;Selin, 2009).

Methodology and data sources used
The

Research results and discusion
Table 3 shows the data on the total consumption of hazardous chemicals in the RS and the EU28 in absolute values (t), as well as relative values (kg/ per capita).The data reveal that the total consumption of hazardous chemicals (kg/per capita) in the Republic of Serbia ranges from 61.6 (2009) to 113.4 (2015), while the consumption in 28 countries of the European Union (EU 28) ranges from 435.6 (2009) to 472.2 (2015).This points to the fact that the consumption of hazardous chemicals in the period 2009 -2015 in the RS is significantly lower that the consumption in the EU 28.This fact is of a great importance for the development of agritourism and rural tourism and attracting potential tourists from the developed countries.This is further contributed by maximal values of consumption, which are significantly lower in the RS (118.5) in comparison to the EU28 (472.2).Additionally, the toxic material consumption in the RS, after a peak reached in 2013, maintains a declining trend, while in the economically developed countries of the EU, with already high values of total toxic material consumption, show an almost constant level of consumption during the observed period.Based on the values obtained and the trends observed in total toxic chemicals consumption per capita, the Republic of Serbia in comparison to the EU28 countries has a good potential and comparative advantage for the development of agritourism and rural tourism as important segments of ecological tourism.For the purposes of comparison of the data on the consumption of hazardous chemicals by Classification of Activities (CA), Figure 1 offers a comparative overview of the consumption of toxic materials by Toxicity Classes (A-E) for the RS i EU28 in the period 2011 -2015.
The comparison of the consumption values obtained leads to the conclusion that compared to the technologically developed countries EU28, the consumption of toxic materials in Sections A and B in the RS takes a considerably lower share in the total consumption of toxic materials (2% against 15% for Class A and 0% against 16% for Class B).This is a positive factor for changing the poor eco image Serbia received after the NATO bombing of 1999 and for creating conditions for healthy eco-tourism, considering the fact that it is known that these Classes -Carcinogenic mutagenic and chemicals toxic for reproduction (A) and Chronically toxic chemicals (B) in accordance with the official data (Bulletin, 2016, pp. 11-12) can cause cancer, heritable genetic damage and/or cause heritable harmful effects in offspring (damaged or diminished reproductive functions) if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin by potential tourists.
The graphs in Figure 1 show that in the RS the largest share in the total toxic material consumption is taken by Section D -Toxic chemicals (50%), followed by the consumption of the hazardous chemicals belonging to Section C -Very toxic chemicals (30%), which supports the claim that the largest share in the consumption of hazardous chemicals by toxicity classes refers to Toxic chemicals and Very toxic chemicals (Bulletin, 2016, p. 29).Considering the fact that the shares of these toxic materials are smaller in the EU28, ways should be explored for decreasing their consumption in the RS, especially because a prolonged exposure to such chemicals can cause harmful effects on health, and in the case of Very toxic chemicals, even a small quantity can cause acute and chronic damage to health, even death.

Figure 1. Consumption of hazardous chemicals by (CA) sections in RS and EU 28
Source: Graphic analysis of authors The graphs in Figure 1 show that in the RS the largest share in the total toxic material consumption is taken by Section D -Toxic chemicals (50%), followed by the consumption of the hazardous chemicals belonging to Section C -Very toxic chemicals (30%), which supports the claim that the largest share in the consumption of hazardous chemicals by toxicity classes refers to Toxic chemicals and Very toxic chemicals (Bulletin, 2016, p. 29).Considering the fact that the shares of these toxic materials are smaller in the EU28, ways should be explored for decreasing their consumption in the RS, especially because a prolonged exposure to such chemicals can cause harmful effects on health, and in the case of Very toxic chemicals, even a small quantity can cause acute and chronic damage to health, even death.
On the contrary to the foregoing, the share in the consumption of the toxic chemicals belonging to Section E-Harmful chemicals, compared to the EU28 (26%) is considerably smaller in the RS (10%), which suggests that measures should be taken to substitute the consumption of Toxic and Very toxic chemicals with this less harmful chemicals, which would lead to Serbia's comparative advantage in regard to the development of agritourism.
For the purposes of gaining a perspective of the sources of toxic chemicals consumption in Serbia, as one of the starting points in the analysis of its potential influence on the agritourism and identification of opportunities for a further improvement in this field by decreasing their consumption, an analysis of the toxic chemicals consumption in the RS by industry sectors was carried out.
Table 4 shows the data on the total consumption of hazardous chemicals by Classification of Activities (CA) sections in the RS in absolute values (tonnes), and as percentage of toxic chemicals consumption per year in total and for given industry sectors in the RS for the period 2011 -2015.Many hazardous chemicals management issues are linked with expanding industrialization and growing consumption (Geiser, 2001;Selin, 2009, p. 7).
From the presented data in Table 4, it can be noted that the highest consumption of hazardous chemicals by Classification of Activities (CA) sections in the RS was in Manufacturing Sector with a share in the total consumption about 97.8%, the consumption in this sector peaked in 2013, followed by a declining trend.The data for the section of Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, which takes the second place in the share in the total consumption of hazardous chemicals, reveal that the consumption in this section show a slight increasing trend, but considering the very small share in the total consumption (about 1.1%), this has no significant influence on the increase of total consumption.Therefore, it can be concluded that toxic materials are mainly used in processing industry, and this has no bearing on agritourism, since the processing capacities are concentrated in industrial zones of urban areas, so that this has no significant impact on lowering the quality of areas suitable for the development of agritourism and rural tourism in the RS.
The main condition for the development and improvement of agritourism is healthy environment in all its segments.In this context, it is important to analyse hazardous chemicals consumption in individual regions of the Republic of Serbia, and analyse the existing ecological conditions for the development and improvement of rural tourism in the given parts of the country, because many chemical risks are related to agriculture.According to Selin (2009, p. 3).Total consumption of hazardous chemicals, by toxicity classes (A-E), by regions of the Republic of Serbia and total consumption of hazardous chemicals by regions in kg/per capita (2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) is provided in table 6.
The data from Table 5 further offer an overview of the shares of each region in the Republic of Serbia in the consumption of hazardous chemicals per capita classified by toxicity classes for the period 2011-2015.The referential data on the total number of inhabitants at the level of the entire country and by regions are based on the results of the 2011 census (Demographic Yearbook. 2015. p. 35).
The data from Table 5 in the first place show that in the period 2011-2015 the consumption of hazardous chemicals was lower in the Region of Belgrade, and as it is the region with a high population density, its analysis bears a small relevance in regard to the development of agritourism and rural tourism.
Considering the consumption of toxic materials from Sections D (Toxic chemicals) and C (Very toxic chemicals), whose share in the total consumption in the RS is high (88%), the regions that stand out as particularly suitable are the Regions of Šumadija and Western Serbia with the consumption of 11.5 and 26.1 kg/capita of Classes C and D respectively, as well as Southern and Eastern Serbia with the consumption of 30.7I 37.3kg/capita of Classes C and D respectively, which, compared to the consumption in the Region of Vojvodina (150.8+90.0),highlights the importance of these regions for the development of eco-tourism.
From Table 5 it can be noted that based on the total average consumption including chemicals from all toxicity classes in the period 2011 -2015, the RS regions can be ranked by their suitability for eco-tourism in the following order: 1 Regions of Šumadija and Western Serbia (48.7); 2. Southern and Eastern Region (70.1) and the Region of Vojvodina (280.5).This, to a certain extent, corresponds to the findings of Đorđević-Milošević and Milovanović (2012. p. 34-35) that rural areas in the RS include: 1. Northern plains of Vojvodina, which account for 28% of the total area of Serbia and 26.8% of its total population; 2. Mountains and highlands of Central Serbia, which account for 29% of the total area of Serbia with 44% of its population, and 3. Mountains and valleys of Southern Serbia, which account for 44% of the total area of Serbia, with almost 22% of the population.
It must be noted that although the values of relative consumption of hazardous chemicals from section C (Very toxic chemicals) in the Region of Vojvodina are rather high in the period 2011-2015, they have a falling trend and the values are still far under those of the economically developed EU 28 countries, which is favourable for the development of agritourism and rural tourism in this RS region.

Conclusion
It is evident that some progress has been made in addressing the problem of the consumption of toxic chemicals at the international level and in certain countries, but the consumption of a large number of chemicals still continues to pose a great risk to the environment and human health around the world.
Starting from the position that agritourism includes "rural enterprises which incorporate both a working farm environment and a commercial tourismcomponent'' (McGehee. 2007. p. 111), it is an undoubted fact that ecological capitalsubject to, among other factors the consumption of hazardous chemicalssignificantly influences the development of rural areas and consequently agritourism, as an activity that can largely contribute to the development of the potentials of rural areas.Considering the fact that the percentage of hazardous chemicals consumption is directly proportionate to the quality of ecological potential, which is in turn one of the basic principles of rural development and as such has direct implications in the field of the development of agritourism, the analysis of the hazardous chemicals consumption per regions of the Republic of Serbia has revealed that the trend of hazardous chemicals consumption both in total and by toxicity classes per capita in Serbia is significantly lower than in the developed countries of EU28.
Beside that the share of the most toxic classes (A and B) is significantly lower in Serbia, while the share of classes C and D ishigher pointing out that the substitution of these classes with less toxic chemicals from E class should be promoted in order to support additionally the development of agrotourism.Additionally, the trend of hazardous chemicals consumptionis decreasing in Serbia, and stagnates in EU28.Particularly low consumption is registered in Southern and Eastern region and Sumadia and Western region, pointing out at ther potential of these regions for development of agro-tourism based on this fact.
study analyses the consumption of hazardous chemicals in individual regions on the Republic of Serbia (RS) compared to the European Union (28 countries -EU28).The research section focuses on the Consumption of hazardous chemicals, by divisions of Classification of activities and Consumption of hazardous chemicals, by toxicity classes (A-E).The research covers a five-year periodfrom 2011 to 2015.For the purposes of enabling comparison between the results of consumption (on average and by regions), the consumption was calculated per capita by dividing the absolute values of consumption in the period 2009-2015 by the number of people in the given years.The research was based on the official statistical data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia and European statistics data -Eurostat (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/environment/hazardoussubstances/database)

Table 1 :
Basic principles of rural development

Table 2 .
Important characteristics of hazardous chemicals time during which the chemical remains in the environment before it biodegrades, measured half-life (time needed for degradation to the half of initial concentration in soil, air, water, and sediment.Presence of highly persistent chemical isparticularly dangerous in combination with high toxicity, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. 2 Toxicity The effect that the chemical has on an organism or part of an organism, organ, tissue or cell oncluding different kinds of cancer, act as endocrine disrupters, and negative effects in the early stages of human development The same dose of a toxic chemical may exhibit different responses by different organisms.3

Table 3 .
Consumption of total hazardous chemicals inRS and EU 28

Table 4 .
Consumption of hazardous chemicals by CA sections in RS in tonnes

Table 5 .
The consumption of hazardous chemicals (kg/per capita) by toxicity classes (A-E), by regions of the Republic ofSerbia, for the period 2011Serbia, for the period  -2015