Ten municipalities selected for partnership on the project “Rock the Green Trail in BIH”
The project “Rock the Green Trail in BIH” announced today signing of ten Memorandums of Cooperation with the municipalities that have become partners of the project. The total value of the project is more than 340,000 BAM, of which the European Union has provided grants in the amount of more than 275,000 BAM through EU4Business. The project will contribute to the development of adventure tourism and complement it with a new and branded tourism product. Local communities and final beneficiaries, such as hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and sports equipment stores, as well as numerous seasonal and other tourism workers, will benefit from the increased number of tourists and visitors upon completion of the project. The project “Rock the Green Trail in BIH” is implemented by a project team that includes the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the University in Sarajevo, Mountaineering Association “Fasto” and the IT company Rebus d.o.o. Sarajevo.
“Guided by equal and transparent criteria, we have chosen Bihac, Banja Luka, Prijedor, Jajce, Travnik, Goražde, Sokolac, Ilijaš, Vareš and Zavidovići. In those cities, we will, among other things, set up climbing areas on natural rocks, and carry out additional promotional and other activities”, said Prof. Dr. Erol Kovačević, project coordinator. During each of the forty meetings attended by mayors and representatives of municipal services, development agencies and mountaineering and climbing associations, climbing was recognized as one of the branches of adventure tourism for which our country has great but underused potential.
The Corona virus literally closed cities, cafes, shopping malls, theatres, museums, schools and kindergartens in one day. All that situation showed us the importance of nature. We realized that nature has no alternative, and that it is a salvation, a safe haven and healthy fun for the whole family. “Climbing as a sports-recreational discipline develops psychomotor and intellectual abilities, logical reasoning, coordination, concentration and a sense of community and helping others. Throughout the project, ten climbing areas with thirty routes have been designed in such a way as to provide the opportunity for climbing for both beginners and professionals”, said Prof. Dr. Elvir Kazazović, an expert in the development of climbing areas in the project.
There are currently more than 35 million climbers in the world for whom Bosnia and Herzegovina’s untouched nature, challenging rocks, the possibility of visiting and accommodation in nature and the connection with other offers of adventure tourism will be very interesting. In addition to setting up the climbing areas, the project also plans to provide training to twenty climbing instructors and create IT tools, such as web platforms and mobile applications. “These tools and the Digital platform for the Promotion of Adventure Tourism in the Region will help popularize, promote and market the new tourist offer.” said Elvis Pivić an Agile&Digital Transformation expert.
EU4Business is the European Union’s project aiming to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity for economic growth and employment by fostering competitiveness and innovation in selected sectors. EU4Business is worth EUR 16.1, out of which 15 million funded by the European Union and the EUR 1.1 million funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. The project is jointly implemented by GIZ, UNDP and ILO, from April 2018 to March 2022. EU4Business is part of the Local Self-Government and Economic Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina supported by the German Government. For more information, please visit: www.eu4business.ba.
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