Project partners Regional Development Agency Zlatibor, Terra Dinarica and Municipality of Vareš hosted a Kick Off Conference in Sarajevo on 23.05.2023. The project Via Dinarica: Green Trail Above Borders is co-financed by the European Union within the IPA II Cross-border Cooperation Programme Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014-2020.
The project aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of the cross-border region by improving Via Dinarica tourist product. The plan is to mark 510 km of new, and to improve 315 km of existing trails along the Green Trail of Via Dinarica opening thus a possibility for its further development in other areas of the Republic of Serbia and the Balkans. Tourist organization, mountaineering associations, and managers of the protected areas would get an opportunity to improve their capacities. Green Trail will be promoted as a tourist destination via social networks and specialized portals.
Nihad Uk, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister pointed out that for Sarajevo which is surrounded by mountains the concept of Via Dinarica is one of the priorities in tourism development. He also pointed out importance and the added value of a regional project in cooperation with the Republic of Serbia and thanked European Union for the financial support.
Esad Hodžić, advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Youth of the Republic of Serbia also pointed the importance of tourism development and the regional approach to such projects. This project aims to connect different communities in the Western Serbia in the exchange of ideas and experiences and in that way improve tourist offer and contribute to overall economic development of the region.
Vesna Zlatic from the Tourist Organization of Serbia said that the project will enrich the tourist offer in the country by putting Serbia on the map of Via Dinarica.
Mayor of Vareš Municipality, Zdravko Marošević, supported the project as a way to connect the area from Slovenia to Albania and at the same offer the product to the local and foreign tourists. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of nature and its protection.
Representatives of the toruist organizations, protected areas, mounteneering associations, chamber of commerce and regional agencies from Serbia and BiH attended the Conference.
