Turistica hosts expert in international events and destination development

On Monday, 20 April 2026, Turistica hosted the internationally recognised expert in tourism, major events and destination development, Dr Dušan Borovčanin. He delivered a guest lecture entitled “Winning the Bid. Building the Reality. The inside story of a mega event EXPO 2027.”, attracting numerous students, professionals and members of the wider public.

The lecture offered an in-depth insight into the complex background of bidding for and organising one of Europe’s largest international events: EXPO 2027 Belgrade. The speaker presented the bidding process in competition with several countries, highlighting the importance of strategic thinking, coordinated stakeholder collaboration, and a clear vision for destination development. He also addressed the broader significance of “mega” events for destination development, their international visibility, and their long-term economic and social impacts.

Special attention was given to the challenges of establishing an effective organisational structure and managing crisis situations faced by event organisers. Through practical examples, he highlighted key mistakes and lessons that can serve as valuable guidance for future professionals in tourism and event management.

As former Director of the Serbia Convention Bureau, Dr Borovčanin significantly contributed to positioning Serbia within the global meetings industry. He is an assistant professor, researcher and frequent keynote speaker at international conferences, and his work has been featured in media such as Fortune, USA Today and Gulf News. He also played a key executive role in the development and global positioning of EXPO 2027 Belgrade.

The lecture concluded with practical advice for students and young professionals, followed by a lively discussion in which students actively engaged, asking numerous questions and receiving concrete answers and guidance. The event represents an important enrichment of the study process at Turistica and reaffirms the faculty’s commitment to connecting theory with practice and engaging leading international experts.