Growing and Green
IN SERBIA
Serbia is slowly growing in consciousness with international tourists. Given the country’s incredible natural beauty, it is therefore no surprise that its first ever glamping site has opened to great acclaim. International Glamping Business publisher Steph Curtis-Raleigh catches up with Lala Vineyard’s co-founder Olja Zvizdic to find out more.
The story behind Serbia’s first glamping site starts – strangely enough – in the UAE. Olja Zvizdic is based in Dubai and back in 2016 started to take an interest in the phenomenon of glamping. “It inspired me to think about a glamping project in my own country – Serbia,” she says. “We conducted thorough market research and identified the perfect plot of land and then formed Nicholl Group as an international glamping developer and operator in June 2020.” Nicholl Group’s first project is Lala Vineyard, which is also the first-ever glamping resort in Serbia. As a green field investment and one of the very few adults-only resorts in the country, Lala has opened up a whole new world – the world of glamping - not only for domestic travellers but it has provided a completely new way to experience Serbia to international travellers as well. “Serbia is a country of incredible natural beauty. With seven national parks, the River Danube, lakes, mountains and the only desert in Europe, it has a lot to offer,” says Olja. “Apart from the capital Belgrade and a few other micro-destinations, the rest of the
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country is still under-developed and relatively unknown to world travellers. Glamping however presents an opportunity to unlock these hidden gems without damaging them but rather through developing them in a sustainable and regenerative way.” Nicholl Group hopes the location of Lala Vineyard will spark a curiosity for our guests to explore the area further. Set in one of the oldest wine regions on the continent Lala provides an affordable luxurious oasis of tranquillity. A place to be in touch with nature, enjoy the great outdoors, recharge one’s batteries, enjoy long walks or to cycle in nearby Fruska Gora National Park or simply to enjoy some of the best local wines from the heated saltwater pool overlooking the River Danube. “It is not a rare sight to spot a pair of eagles soaring above the resort reminding us that we are the guests and should obey the house rules!” says Olja. As a ground-breaking concept not seen before in Serbia, Lala has sparked considerable curiosity from local and regional travel, lifestyle bloggers, magazines as well as the national press and TV.
