PROJECT DETAILS

Thematic Priority: Encouraging tourism, cultural and natural heritage Implementing institutions: Center for sustainable development ALKA Skopje – Lead Partner Shoqata Aplinistike Marimangat e Pejes - Marimanga – NGO, Kosovo Shoqata bjeshkatare SHARRI Prizren, Kosovo Association for alternative Balkan tourism Balkanija Skopje, Macedonia – Website: http://www.alka.org.mk/ Duration: 24 months Project value: EUR 229,888.90 EU Contribution: EUR 195,400.00 Co-financing: EUR 34,488.90 Tourism signifies the third largest economic sector in EU and despite challenges such as the economic crisis, it still predicted to grow. Moreover, tourism in format of rural regional tours is getting event higher viable niche in overall tourism sector. Promoting concept of rural regional routes and promoting existing tourism services, cultural and natural resources along the routes represents a package that is wanted and familiar in many EU countries. In the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ad Kosovo, local/rural tourism has various forms (agro/eco-tourism) cultural/monastery, wilderness hunting, spa and more). But is a small and well below its real potentials. Mapping, arranging and then promoting the existing and potential routes or regional routes will provide an opportunity to join all tourism services and tourism forms into a one well established regional tourism offer. Also the existing knowledge of the local tourist animators/guides can be properly challenged and upgraded into a better service. Local rural facilities appropriate for accommodation will get opportunity to raise awareness of their own potential for further economic growth by offering higher and various quality services. Local capacities for sustainable development of all mentioned and related sectors, independently is inhibited by the size of the countries such as Macedonia and Kosovo. Knowledge about the reliance of the related sectors, and the overall experience of the projects partners in tourism and its field practices made the project team to believe that efforts should be made to develop economically/environmentally sound action which will use the same physical spaces and natural resources much more efficiently. Overall objective: Enhance tourism potential and promote regional values of CB region. Direct Beneficiaries: Mountaineering clubs, hiking clubs, touristic guides Touristic service providers other sport clubs travel agencies, citizens, visitors Results: One research on touristic offers in from CB region (Polog Region and Prizren District) 20 new touristic routes detected and ID prepared for each GPS marking for 20 routes 20 physical signs will be put in the beginning of each route Joint database of containing the ID of touristic routes and scanned GPS coordinates prepared Advisory support programme for facilities and households developed and prepared Touristic guides Manual developed and prepared 1000 Touristic guides Manuals printed One website for rural tourism promotion launched Promotional campaign for routes, cultural and natural heritage and service providers Printed maps of all identified routes 6 videos promoting attractive touristic spots