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INTRODUCTION
Modern achievements and the high level of technological development created 
new professions. As new trends emerge, new standards arise. Animation in 
tourism is a part of this. Its beginning is rooted back in history, although the 
animation is considered to be a new profession that changed very much 
nowadays. As conditions of work change so does the structure of vacation, also 
the needs that contribute to better vacation change. People have always had 
different motives for going on vacation. Mitić (2001.) in his book “Recreation” 
writes about several types of motivation that contribute to the development of 
tourism. These are: psychic factors (rest, peace, and silence), cultural factors 
(tradition and new customs), interpersonal (new acquaintances), physical (fun 
and adventure) and etc. Tourism is very different today than 20 or 30 years ago. 
Today it is a big part of industry with its yearly profit excelling billions of 
Euros. If for vacation in the past was needed only bed and a good lunch, today it 
requires much more. Every serious tourist facility besides the basic offer it must 
have sport pitches, wellness, beauty centers, stage, disco, animation and 
certainly the personnel which is highly trained for these conditions.
Animation represents an important element in creating activities for tourists. It 
becomes important factor of a tourist offer of all countries. It holds a special 
place in tourism because it premeditatedly fulfills the time of tourists and 
contributes to their communication. Escape from reality is one of the main 
reasons why people go on vacation. People want to meet new friends and enjoy 
in the sightseeing. The offers have to be attractive and interesting in order to 
find their way to the clients. The race for better and bigger animation offer is at 
its peak in some countries (agencies offer marriage in a balloon flights).
The job of an animator is to make the vacation exceptional and beautiful. 
Important people of every tourist facility are receptionists, waiters, bartenders, 
cleaning ladies, but above all, the most important are the animators who give 

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A N I M A T O R I N T O U R I S M
Ivanovski
14
Mitić
special care to that place with their activities and abilities (communication, good 
relations with the guests, the ability to conduct sports activities).
The proof of the increasing popularity of animation is the emergence of 
educational activities, courses, schools etc. The wish of every hotel is to have 
competent, smiling but trained animators who speak several languages. Various 
agencies have entered the race of educating the young who want to become 
animators. Faculties and colleges have special departments dedicated to 
animation. There are a lot of agencies that constantly employ animators. 
Animation in tourism is present as a subject on many faculties and colleges 
around the world. It is studied, examined and it is developing in every way.
If we look at the agencies that offer the program of animation we see that 
animation is poorly developed in our country. In the last few years animation in 
tourist destinations is done by the agencies of Belvi and Robinson. However 
there is a certain tradition if we consider the education of the young. All credits 
go to the competence of our people who have managed to respond to the 
demands of modern tourism. Professors and associates on the Faculty of sport 
and physical education in Belgrade are the keepers of the tradition and 
constantly work on the improvement of this old, new profession.
We tried to show the connection between the program of recreational activities 
and tourist destinations, as well tourist agencies and the importance of animator 
training and their consistency in the world of tourism. Based on the results of 
the research we hope we will manage to complete the profile of the animator of 
sports and recreational activities and to increase the level of quality in service in 
tourism. 

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A N I M A T O R I N T O U R I S M
Ivanovski
15
Mitić