Manuel for identification of cross-border projects of sustainable mountain tourism was presented
(4 th December 2018)
On December 4th 2018, a press conference was held in Negotin at which the Manuel for identification of cross-border projects of sustainable mountain tourism was presented.
Through the realization of the project "Carpathians Connects" and documents and analyzes made within these project the priority steps of the actors in mountain tourism are defined, which are reflected in the identification, preparation and realization of joint cross-border projects in the field of mountain tourism.
Cross-border projects in mountain tourism are very specific and there are very few sources of funding or some other kind of their support. The European Union's (EU) funds are, at this moment, the only real sources of support for such initiatives and projects. Therefore, a Manuel for Identifying Cross-Border Projects of Sustainable Mountain Tourism was prepared, which is mainly directed towards EU funds and their principles and customary rules. The Manuel is designed in relation to the assumed, potential open calls for submission of projects in the field of mountain tourism in one of the Transnational or Cross-Border Cooperation Programs.
In this Manuel (given the emphasis on the use of EU funds in cross-border cooperation), cross-border cooperation is seen as cooperation between EU Member States, countries with candidate status and countries that have the status of potential candidates for EU membership. Regional and territorial cooperation implies support for activities between countries that share a common border, in order to achieve goals and make positive changes. The cross-border cooperation that is financially supported by the EU has arisen on the basis of the EU principle that the border be the point of merging rather than the point of separation.
Because of all this, this Manual was created. It provides the opportunity for everyone interested to invest their time and find out more about cross-border programs through which projects for the development of mountain tourism are financed. The manual are useful for:
- Representatives of authorities dealing with mountain tourism in the Carpathian cross-border area,
- Institutions and organizations that operate in the areas of environment and tourism,
- Professionals dealing with sustainable tourism and related sectors, etc.
This Manuel provides guidelines for moving from the initial idea for a project, through applying for EU funds and realization, to closing the project and returning the spent funds. Users of this manual will have the best effect if they chose their time as much engagement as possible for the given advice.
Carpathian Connects final conference
(14 th November 2018)
On 13th and 14th November in Kladovo was held final conference of the project Connects Carpathians, which is implemented under the Interreg-IPA CBC Program Romania-Serbia 2014 - 2020.
The project is implemented in the Bor district of Serbia (municipalities of Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin and Bor) and districts Karas Severin and Mehedinti in Romania by the partners: Regional Development Agency Eastern Serbia - RARIS and the Romanian Association for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Mehedinti County.
The project supported the development of the local tourism business by strengthening mountain tourism as a new tourism product that contributes to sustainable use of natural resources in the Carpathian cross-border region Romania - Serbia.
At the final conference were more than 100 participants from Serbia and Romania from the public, business and NGOs who work in the field of tourism and the environment.
During the conference, the participants were presented the results of the project and specific guidelines for the future activities of transnational networks of stakeholders for the development of mountain tourism, which was formed at the beginning of the project.
Members of the network have confirmed a shared vision of development of mountain tourism of the cross-border areas, defined during the final conference and signed the Declaration of Commitment.
Participants were introduced with the Guide “identification of cross-border projects in the field of sustainable mountain tourism” and 6 project ideas developed during the project.
Opportunities for development of mountain tourism in the cross-border area of Serbia - Romania was presented on the public debate in Bor
(May 23th 2018)
On 23th May 2018, in Bor was held a public debate on which was presented a draft version of ‘’Study on sustainable development of mountain tourism in the Carpathian cross-border region Serbia - Romania.
The study was conducted within the framework of the project "Carpathians Connects", co-financed by Interreg IPA CBC Romania-Serbia 2014 - 2020.
The aim of the public debate was to present a draft version of the Study to stakeholders in the field of tourism, environmental protection, non-governmental sector, public sector and media, and to enable all of them to actively participate in preparation of final document.
Participants in the public debate during the presentation of a working document provided comments, remarks and suggestions for drafting the final version of the document.
At the debate, 57 participants took an active role in the discussion and clarifying a number of issues concerning the development of mountain tourism in these border area.
Statement from the debate can be found here (source: TV Bor).
The Study '’State of the art of mountain tourism in Serbia - Romania Carpathian cross-border area’’ was presented
(February 14th 2018)
The Study ‘’State of the art of mountain tourism in Serbia - Romania Carpathian cross-border area’’ was presented at a press conference held in Kladovo, on 14th February. Study presents an analysis of the situation and potential for development of tourism Serbia - Romania Carpathian cross-border area.
Statement from the press conference can be found here (source: TV East).
Study ‘’State of the art of mountain tourism in Serbia - Romania Carpathian cross-border area’’ can be found here.
The first meeting of the cross-border network for the development of mountain tourism held in Bor
( December 7th 2017)
Within the project "Carpathians Connects" it’s formed the "Cross-border network of stakeholders for the development of mountain tourism". Network members are professionals with experience in the field of tourism, sport (hiking, biking), environmental protection, agriculture and the economy. The network is composed of 20 members from Serbia and Romania representing the public, private and CSO sector.
The first meeting of cross-border networks was held on 6 and 7 December in Brestovac, Bor. The meeting presented the first results of the analyses „State of the art of mountain tourism in Romanian-Serbian Carpathian cross-border area“. Members of the network analyzed presented study and gave their comments and suggestions for planning use of natural and cultural potentials for development of mountain tourism.
The meeting was attended 20 members of transnational networks and the project team "Carpathians Connects".
Presented results will be the base for the development of the „Study on the development of sustainable tourism in the Carpathian mountainous border regions of Serbia – Romani“, which will be developed through further project activitys.
A statement from the meeting is available here (source: TV Bor).
The first Press conference of the project "Carpathians Connects"
(October 31st 2017)
The first Press conference of the project "Carpathians Connects was organized on October 31st 2017 in Negotin, with presence of a dozen representatives of local and regional media of Eastern Serbia.
Project partners: Regional Development Agency Eastern Serbia - RARIS and the Romanian Association for Innovation and Technology Transfer - AROTT, presented to the media: project objectives, expected results and project activities. They emphasized that the project is implemented in the Bor District, Serbia (municipalities of Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin and Bor) and districts Karas Severin and Mehedinti, Romania.
Attractiveness for sustainable tourism
