Study tour was organized for stakeholders from the cross-border region “Drina-Sava” to visit good practice examples of rural development in the cross-border region “Drina-Tara” in a period from 2-4 October, 2018 in Uzice, Cajetina, Bajina Basta, Prijepolje in Serbia and Bijelo Polje and Pljevlja in Montenegro.

This activity was purpose-designed for the representatives of stakeholders from the cross-border region “Drina-Sava” in order to expand their knowledge in the field of agriculture, rural and economic development in cross-border area. Region of Western Serbia and Northern Montenegro (part of the cross-border region “Drina-Tara”) is recognized as an area with a significant example of developed rural economies, providers of rural tourism service, producers of small and medium traditional food and typical products, regional networking and cooperation of local producers toward better market positioning and sales of their products in the tourism market. Over the years, this area has generated high income from rural tourism and the tourism sector in general. Also, this area records high tourism demand for diversified quality services, especially when it comes to traditional production and  availability of organic food. In line with the agenda, study tour included good practice examples of diversification of the rural economy.

Through a three-day study tour selected representative from the CBR “Drina-Sava” visited:

• 8 successful rural tourism households
• 2 tour operators
• 1 example of tourist animation
• 6 small food producers including organic production
• 4 small food processing facilities
• 4 examples of branding and good marketing initiatives
• attended at 1 presentation on IPARD measures for rural diversification.

All participants expressed their satisfaction with all aspects of organization and implementation of the study tour. Participants stated that they were satisfied with the examples of good practice, supported by local self-governments, tourism organizations and other national, regional and local institutions as well as different donors. They have realized that one of the basic conditions for success in tourism market is collaboration with all stakeholders, networking and trust gained through successful cooperation both from the local community and producers/service provider.

The study tour is organized and supported by the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in South-Eastern Europe within the European Union funded project: “Regional cooperation and networking in the field of agriculture, rural and economic development of cross-border areas” in partnership with Regional Development Agency Zlatibor, Uzice.