Connecting Naturally Through Via Dinarica White Trail GRANT FACT SHEET
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This project is funded by the European Union tourism development & promotion project Connecting Naturally Through Via Dinarica White Trail GRANT FACT SHEET GOAL INTRODUCTION Construction of a new circuit trail on Via Dinarica The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) im- White Trail in Tara Canyon and development of plemented and European Union (EU) funded an associated cultural tourism component (sto- Tourism Development and Promotion Project rytelling) based on a tradition of river log-driv- worth EUR 5 million works to develop and in- ing (today’s rafting) employed by lumberjack ternationally promote joint regional cultural prior to the 2nd World War; mapping, GPS track- and adventure tourism offer, increase number ing and consistent marking and promotion of of tourists visiting the six Western Balkans eight standardised one-day itineraries along the economies (WB6), lengthen their stay in the cross-border Trail portions in Bosnia and Herze- region, increase revenues and employment govina and Montenegro; and development of a in the industry, and remove policy barriers to feasibility study for a cultural route connecting further development of tourism. fortress in the same geographic area. The Project utilises EUR 1.62 million grants Location scheme to help improve quality of services Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and infrastructure along the selected Action value routes. The first 12 out of 30+ grants – worth up to EUR 54,000 each – were awarded EUR 53,980.00 (EU/RCC grant: EUR 48,460.00) in November 2018. Centre for Sustainable Category Tourism Initia-tives (CSTI) is amongst the Cultural/Adventure tourism first twelve grant recipients. Lead applicant Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives - CSTI Implementation period November 2018 – June 2019 (7 months) DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION Montenegrin) and in 4,000 copies each, maps and guidebooks will be distributed by tourism Current situation offices, tour operators and outdoors clubs and The concept of Via Dinarica as a mega hik- used by tour guides and individual hikers and ing trail along the Dinaric Alps (from Slove- will entail description of the trail and informa- nia to Albania) has grown from an idea and tion about some 100 service providers on the a grassroots initiative into a market-oriented path including guest houses, bread and break- regional tourism product which is constantly fast facilities and restaurants. developing. Though the product is far from With a view to further product development, being fully developed in the six Western Bal- CSTI will conduct a feasibility study for the kans economies, it is receiving high recogni- creation and promotion of a cultural route in tion and attention at international markets. Montenegro building on the stories of medieval Some of the challenges in the product de- fortresses present along the Via Dinarica trail. velopment and marketing include unified It will also conduct needs assessment for fur- presentation and promotion, as well as ob- ther White Trail development in Montenegro. taining permissions to use the land and to The new circuit trail, improved infrastructure implement infrastructure projects and install and guiding/promotional materials will be pro- signage. moted at a high-level media event organised in Actions to be performed through grant Tara Canyon. Since 2011, CSTI has been involved in the de- Results and sustainability velopment and promotion of Via Dinarica trail Actions conducted under the grant will result in Montenegro and the cross-border region in the development of a new portion of Via Di- with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Kosovo*. narica White Trail in Tara Canyon featuring cul- Through its previous activities it has devel- tural tour which will become a benchmark for oped a feasibility study to construct six-kilo- future trail upgrades; detailed mapping and metre-long thematic circular trail along Via GPS tracking of more than 200 kilometres of Dinarica White Trail passing through Tara Can- Via Dinarica trail in BiH and Montenegro; and yon (Durmitor National Park), one of the main the production of hiking maps and guidebook natural attractions in Montenegro. Upon ob- in two languages. taining necessary permissions, CSTI will clean, Through the needs assessment and the feasi- fix and construct parts of the trail as necessary, bility study, the actions will also pave the way and install trail marking, pointers and eight for further trail and product development to info boards along the trail, as well as a shel- be funded through similar grants and by the tered seating area, nine benches and a safety Montenegrin Ministry of Sustainable Develop- fence at a viewpoint. This circular trail will ment and Tourism. be enriched with a cultural tourism segment, i.e. developed storyline about the traditional river log-driving performed by lumberjacks in the Canyon up to the 2nd World War and its transformation into today’s rafting. This story will be part of the tourism offer presented at six specific points (information boards) along the circuit. Further to this, CSTI will also in- stall five orientation boards on the access road to the circuit trail for easier orientation and tracking. To further improve the quality of hiking expe- CONTACTS rience on the 210-kilometre long segment of Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives - Via Dinarica White Trail in the cross-border re- CSTI gion between BiH and Montenegro, CSTI will conduct mapping and GPS tracking of the trail Piperska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro and will produce topographic maps and a hik- +382 (0)20 510 125 ing guidebook including eight one-day itinerar- [email protected], www. ies in the region; five in Montenegro and three cstimontenegro.org in BiH. Produced in two languages (English and RCC Tourism Development and Promotion * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, Project and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. [email protected], www.rcc.int/tourism .