Eco and Outdoor Tourism Actions of the Balkan Alps

Project funding	EU
Project website	N/A
Programme website	Montenegro – Kosovo*
Contribution to the Programme’s specific objective	Improve the volume, quality and visibility of tourism related to valorisation of cultural and natural heritage and values
Project start date	2-11-2018
Project end date	2-07-2021
Project total budget	EUR 443.791,06
Project EU funding	EUR 377.222,40

Project Description

Description	The overall objective of the project is Strengthening the sustainable development of the trans-boundary area, through valorisation of joint touristic potentials based on common natural and cultural heritage. Specific objectives are the following: 1: To develop new and refine existing tourism packages and improve tourism infrastructure; 2: To train local tourism service providers and guides for niche tourism services; 3: To strengthen cooperation of mountain rescue services and increase safety of visitors. The main activities foreseen within the Working packages of the project are: A1. Tourism product development: – A1.1 Interviews with tourism stakeholders; – A1.2 Reassessment of existing offer and new tourism packages development; – A1.3 Organization of a Joint Strategic Workshop; – A1.4 Preparation of specifications for the arrangement of light infrastructure; – Development, refining and marking of ‘the Cursed Mountain’ trails. A2. Human resource development: – A2.1 Design of trainings; – A2.2 Implementation of trainings; – A2.3 Organization of a Press trip according to Balkan Alps itineraries; – A2.4 Community-based activities. A3. Branding & market communication: – A3.1 Web site, promotional material development and video production; – A3.2 Social media promotion and travel blogging. A4. Establishing CB mountain rescue centre: – A4.1 Preparation of specifications for the establishment of the CB rescue centre; – A4.2 Implementation of works in the CB mountain rescue centre.
Expected results	1.1. Sites with natural value conserved, revitalized and open to public; 1.2. The offer of active tourism services improved; 2.1. More people become entrepreneur in tourism; 3.1. The offer of active tourism services improved, made visible to international and domestic visitors; 4.1. Improved quality of active tourism services and increased safety of tourists in the mountains.
Expected outputs	• 50 km of trails refined marked and developed; • At least 50 local tourism stakeholders interviewed and involved; • CB multi-destination tourism product ‘Balkan Alps Experience’ developed (at least 3 versions of itinerary); • One Strategic Cross-border events/Workshops held. • 5 trainings for specialized mountaineering guides (2 in winter and 2 training courses in summer conditions, basic and advanced tour module) for 30 guides organized; • 6 training courses for biodiversity guides (bird-watching, courses in botanic especially for wildflowers, medicinal plants, mushroom picking etc.) with 30 trained guides organized; • One press trips organized for 30 journalists; • Provision of the support to women’s entrepreneurship through training and meetings with locals to integrate products that represent the cultural heritage of the Balkanik Alps into the tourism package; • Tourism providers serving outdoor niche tourism market connected; • 50,000 community members informed by awareness raising campaigns on the value of natural and cultural heritage of the Cursed Mountains; • Establishment of a cross-border rescue centre (renovation and adaptation of the centre in Grebaje, procurement of technical, medical and personal equipment).

Description

The overall objective of the project is Strengthening the sustainable development of the trans-boundary area, through valorisation of joint touristic potentials based on common natural and cultural heritage.

Specific objectives are the following:
1: To develop new and refine existing tourism packages and improve tourism infrastructure;
2: To train local tourism service providers and guides for niche tourism services;
3: To strengthen cooperation of mountain rescue services and increase safety of visitors.

The main activities foreseen within the Working packages of the project are:
A1. Tourism product development:
– A1.1 Interviews with tourism stakeholders;
– A1.2 Reassessment of existing offer and new tourism packages development;
– A1.3 Organization of a Joint Strategic Workshop;
– A1.4 Preparation of specifications for the arrangement of light infrastructure;
– Development, refining and marking of ‘the Cursed Mountain’ trails.
A2. Human resource development:
– A2.1 Design of trainings;
– A2.2 Implementation of trainings;
– A2.3 Organization of a Press trip according to Balkan Alps itineraries;
– A2.4 Community-based activities.
A3. Branding & market communication:
– A3.1 Web site, promotional material development and video production;
– A3.2 Social media promotion and travel blogging.
A4. Establishing CB mountain rescue centre:
– A4.1 Preparation of specifications for the establishment of the CB rescue centre;
– A4.2 Implementation of works in the CB mountain rescue centre.

Expected results

1.1. Sites with natural value conserved, revitalized and open to public;
1.2. The offer of active tourism services improved;
2.1. More people become entrepreneur in tourism;
3.1. The offer of active tourism services improved, made visible to international and domestic visitors;
4.1. Improved quality of active tourism services and increased safety of tourists in the mountains.

Expected outputs

• 50 km of trails refined marked and developed;
• At least 50 local tourism stakeholders interviewed and involved;
• CB multi-destination tourism product ‘Balkan Alps Experience’ developed (at least 3 versions of itinerary);
• One Strategic Cross-border events/Workshops held.
• 5 trainings for specialized mountaineering guides (2 in winter and 2 training courses in summer conditions, basic and advanced tour module) for 30 guides organized;
• 6 training courses for biodiversity guides (bird-watching, courses in botanic especially for wildflowers, medicinal plants, mushroom picking etc.) with 30 trained guides organized;
• One press trips organized for 30 journalists;
• Provision of the support to women’s entrepreneurship through training and meetings with locals to integrate products that represent the cultural heritage of the Balkanik Alps into the tourism package;
• Tourism providers serving outdoor niche tourism market connected;
• 50,000 community members informed by awareness raising campaigns on the value of natural and cultural heritage of the Cursed Mountains;
• Establishment of a cross-border rescue centre (renovation and adaptation of the centre in Grebaje, procurement of technical, medical and personal equipment).

Partners Type

Lead partner	Institution name: Centre for protection and research of birds (CZIP) Country: Montenegro Address: Veliše Mugoše, bb, Podgorica Website: http://www.birdwatchingmn.org/ Legal status: Private
Partner	Institution name: Mountain Rescue Service of Montenegro Country: Montenegro Address: Kapino polje bb, Nikšić Website: http://www.gss-cg.me/index.html Legal status: Private
Partner	Institution name: Kosovo Advocacy and Development Centre Country: Kosovo* Address: UÇK, 48/3-1, Prishtinë, Priština Website: https://kadc-ks.org/ Legal status: Private
Partner	Institution name: Mountaineering and Alpine Society „PASHTRIKU“ Country: Kosovo* Address: Sylejman Hadum Aga nr.101, Gjakova/Đakovica Website: https://www.facebook.com/shbapashtriku/ Legal status: Private

Show Map

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence