HAN PIJESAK, 29 December – The final conference of the project “Development of rural tourism as a basis for future sustainable development in the cross-border region of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina” was held at the Municipality of Han Pijesak, showcasing concrete results of EU-funded cross-border cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
The Municipality of Han Pijesak acted as the lead partner, with the City of Loznica, the Hunting Association “Studena Gora” from Han Pijesak and the Hunting Association “Gučevo” from Loznica participating as project partners.
According to Vlado Planinčić, Local Development and Project Officer of the Municipality of Han Pijesak, the main objective of the project was to enhance the competitiveness of rural tourism in the cross-border area through improved tourism infrastructure, the development of new tourism products and services, and the strengthening of partnerships and cooperation between local communities.
Project results were achieved in three key areas. Infrastructure development included the renovation and equipment of two hunting lodges in Loznica and Han Pijesak, the adaptation of school premises in Tršić into a Rural Tourism Promotion Centre, the construction of wildlife observation towers and feeding sites, installation of educational panels, and the procurement of two off-road vehicles.
The project also featured a strong educational and strategic component, with four cross-border workshops held for local stakeholders, focusing on the activation of rural areas and the development of tourism products. In addition, a Rural Development and Environmental Protection Study and a Tourism Development Strategy for the Municipality of Han Pijesak were developed, representing the first documents of this kind in the municipality, which was declared an air spa two years ago.
Within the Innovation and Digital Technologies component, digital maps of hiking trails and key locations were developed, along with the “Eco Trek” mobile application, designed to promote tourism potential and enable wildlife tracking, offering visitors a unique tourism experience.
Planinčić emphasized the importance of EU support, noting that this was the first project under the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme in which the Municipality of Han Pijesak directly participated. He highlighted that such projects significantly contribute to strengthening local capacities, fostering networking and knowledge exchange, and laying the foundations for sustainable long-term development in rural areas with high ecological value.
