EU to provide EUR 5 million for harmonizing regional travel offer in Western Balkans

The European Union will put EUR 5 million in the development and promotion of regional tourism of the Western Balkans countries in the next three years.

The project encompasses Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Macedonia and is oriented towards the development and the harmonization of regional travel offers based on the common cultural-historical heritage and the enhancement of regional adventure tourism.

The project Regional Tourism Development: Culture and Adventure, More Sea, Snow and Sun is realized by the Regional Cooperation Council, and the development and enhancement of the project will rely on the cooperation of state, non-government and private sectors.

– The project contributes to the economic development of the region through the development of the common regional travel offer – said Nikola Gaon, a communications official, while presenting the project at this year’s Weekend Media Festival, held in Rovinj.

He said that the first call for smaller grants directed at the development of infrastructure and enhancement of the quality of service on regional travel routes had already been opened.

The governments of the six countries of the Western Balkans agree that tourism is the sector with the biggest potential for growth and regional cooperation. Tourism currently makes up 24.1% of those countries’ exports, contributes 5.6% to the GDP and accounts for 5.4% of the number of the employed.

Regional Cooperation Council

Nikola Gaon

regional travel offer

regional travel routes

development and enhancement of the travel offer in the Western Balkans