This project is funded by the European Union tourism development & promotion project Connecting Naturally - Development and Promotion of New Via Dinarica Routes in *

GRANT FACT SHEET

GOAL INTRODUCTION Development and promotion of six new stages The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) im- of Via Dinarica trail – some 50 kilometres long plemented and European Union (EU) funded – to better connect Kosovo* portion of the trail Tourism Development and Promotion Project with the trails in and , thus worth EUR 5 million works to develop and in- making the whole trail more competitive. ternationally promote joint regional cultural and adventure tourism offer, increase number Location of tourists visiting the six Western Kosovo* (municipalities: Deçan/Dečane, economies (WB6), lengthen their stay in the Gjakove/Djakovica, Junik, Pejë/Peć) region, increase revenues and employment in the industry, and remove policy barriers to Action value further development of tourism. EUR 49,499.00 (EU/RCC grant: EUR 43,559.12) The Project utilises EUR 1.62 million grants scheme to help improve quality of services Category and infrastructure along the selected routes. Adventure tourism The first 12 out of 30+ grants – worth upto EUR 54,000 each – were awarded in November Lead applicant 2018. CDF is amongst the first twelve grant Community Development Fund – CDF recipients. Implementation period November 2018 – June 2019 (7 months)

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION new trail sections and the information about some 20 service providers, amenities and prod- Current situation ucts that can be found along the way including The Via Dinarica and Trans Dinarica, i.e. 2,000 local food, crafts and bed and breakfast facil- kilometres long hiking and biking trails along Di- ities. In addition, CDF will organise a FAM trip naric Alps, are a crown of the adventure tourism for 15 tour operators from the three economies in the WB6. The trails, though operational, are to introduce them to the new tourism products constantly being enhanced and further devel- and lobby for their inclusion in their offers. oped. The necessity to improve trail infrastruc- In co-operation with the EU-funded Extension of ture and quality of services is especially present ViP Dinarica in the CBC region between Kosovo in the trans-border regions including in Kosovo*. and Albania project the new Via Dinarica trail Actions to be performed through grant sections will also be promoted at an interna- The action to be carried out by CDF will build on tional travel trade show. the previous EU and USAID funded initiative that In addition to development and promotion of connected several national parks in Montenegro the new trails, CDF will build capacities of the (Durmitor, Biogradska Gora and Prokletije) with local tourism stakeholders through two sets of Bjeshket e Nemuna/Prokletije in Kosovo* and training courses. The course on mountain trails Albania creating a trail that passes through nu- development for local mountaineering clubs merous villages and local communities with their will focus on uniform trail marking and main- authentic cultures, customs, crafts and cousin. tenance model, whereas the course on tourism The action will develop and promote six new destination management will target local and stages of the trail – some 50 kilometres long – that central authorities, national park, and other will better connect Via Dinarica trail in Kosovo* relevant stakeholders in Kosovo*. (60 km) with the trail portions going through Al- Results and sustainability bania (100 km) and Montenegro (315 km). With the development of 50 kilometres of new Sections in Kosovo* include: trail sections, Via Dinarica hiking trail between 1. 10 km section between Gjakove/Đakovica, Kosovo*, Albanian and Montenegro will be bet- Molliq/Molić and Qafe leading to Morinë in ter connected, GPS trackable and thus more Albania; competitive. This new product will be promot- ed and local communities, women and youth 2. 8 km section from Stanet e Zogit leading to in particular, along the newly developed trail Rreshkëza - Lumi i Tropojes in Albania; sections will get involved in tourism by provid- 3. 6 km section between Stanet e Pllaqicës and ing services to incoming tourists (local shops, Junik leading to Stanet e Dobërdolit crossing restaurants, bed and breakfast, handcrafts). point in Albania; Furthermore, a CDF–created working group for 4. 6 km section between Stanet e Belegut and grant implementation, which includes repre- Qafa e Belegut leading to Stanet e Bogiqes sentatives of central and local level authori- crossing point towards Montenegro; ties, destination management organisations, 5. 10 km section between Stanet e Belegut, national parks and mountaineering federation, Qafa e Hajnave leading to Goraždevac in will continue its work after the grant is imple- Montenegro; and mented and cooperate with counterparts from neighbouring economies, including a network of 6. 12 km section between Milishevc, Roshko- some 20 tourism services providers. dol, Podina e Madhe, and Pusi i Plavës lead- ing to Jelen in Montenegro.. Development of these new trail sections will in- clude mapping and GPS tracking of the new Via Dinarica routes in Kosovo*; cleaning, repairing and marking of the trail; and the installation of two info boards and three rest points. CONTACTS To promote the newly developed trail sections, Community Development Fund – CDF CDF will develop a set of promotional items to Sejdi Kryeziu 16, 10000 Prishtinë/Priština, Kosovo* include hiking guidebook with maps for self-guid- +383 (0)38 249 677 ed tourists (2,000 copies); trail maps (500 cop- [email protected], www.kcdf.org ies); a 20-minute documentary; social media content; as well as a website with interactive RCC Tourism Development and Promotion downloadable maps with GPS coordinates. Project The guidebook and the maps will further include [email protected], www.rcc.int/tourism description of two to four day itineraries along