FORT NET - Oct 2019 - Oct 2021

FORT NET project of cross-border cooperation has an aim to promote and partly arrange valuable medieval fortresses in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austro-Hungarian fortresses in Montenegro. Another project aim is creating final tourist product and improving the area of tourism, as well as improving overall economic development of these areas. Project is implemented by municipality of Ljubuški, Public Enterprise Development Agency ŽZH – HERAG, Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives (CSTI) and National Tourist Organization of Montenegro (NTO).

The project has an aim to improve conditions for creating sustainable tourist offer which is based on cultural heritage located on the outskirts of urban centres and in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Through the envisaged project activities such as mapping and interpretation of tourist offer, preparation of study documentation for identification of key trails, arrangement of access trails, archaeological research, conservation and restoration works, educational activities etc. an improvement in the quality and diversity of cultural heritage based tourism offer will happen.

Arza fortification Strasnik fortification Gorazda fortification Main donor to the action

Given that during the implementation of project cultural and natural heritage will be systematically listed and new tourist offer created and promoted, all this will contribute to strengthening the awareness of tourists about the offer of the cross-border area and its recognition as a tourist destination. Also, there will be an improvement of cross-border cooperation among the stakeholders in this region and raising the awareness of the local population about the importance of versatile cross-border exchange. This will help to recognize the potential of the cross-border region of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as part of the economic development strategy.

The implementation of the project officially began on 1st October 2019 and will last 24 months. The total value of the project is 470,079.65 euros in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, out of which the European Union is financing 399,556.55 euros. Project is co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration in Montenegro.