Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Programme 2014 - 2020 IPA CBC Albania - Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99)

Date of latest update: 2025-11-22

Description

Description (EN):

Overall objective: “to contribute to the promotion of sustainable development growth and attractiveness of the Kukës - Rahovec/Orahovac areas so as to make better use of their tourism potentials in pursuing regional development and facilitating cross border cooperation while promoting eco-tourism routes across both areas as natural & cultural corridors”. Specific objective(s): - SO1:Renew and expand the tourist offer, highlighting natural and cultural routes and, promoting remote villages that have an extended natural and historical and cultural heritage; - SO2. Deepen the natural and cultural heritage, emphasizing the characteristics of authenticity, beauty and uniqueness of the territory; - SO3. improve access to information to the hikers and the visitors of the area; - SO4. Enhancement of human resources’ expertise on subjects corresponding to environmentally friendly development of tourism and boost local craftwork, with particular emphasis for women entrepreneurship; - SO5. Develop cooperation networks among companies & institutions in the tourist sector. Target groups: Municipal staff, in particular the tourism and IT sector, local artists, youth, local SMEs and artisans in the tourist sector and tour operators, along with local and regional stakeholders involved in tourist development initiatives. Final Beneficiaries: The wide population of the region, existing & potential visitors/tourists, youth, local artists and local craftwork, local SMEs, entrepreneurs, tour operators, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, municipalities part of the cross-border program, private sector and civil society being directly engaged in the main eco-tourist and cultural values and potentials of the region Summary of the planned activities: Management and coordination 0. 1 Kick off meeting 0. 2 Project management committee meeting 0.3 Final conference of the project 0.4 Monitoring of project activities Component A: Communication and Media 1.1 Development of project communication and visibility strategy 1.2 Design of the visual identity and promotional materials 1.3 Two public info-days for the promotion of eco-tourism routes project 1.4 A promotional video for the project activities 1.5 Local TV, official websites and social media promotion: Facebook, instagram, of the project Component B: Cultural and natural trails/routes 2.1 Identification and selection of trails/routes in Kukës and Rahovec/Orahovac 2.2 Properly signposting providing adequate info 2.3 Painting 2 routes legends, to be painted in visible areas, by talented local painters in both areas 2.4 Install climbing walls, with 3 different routes per each area 2.6 Set-up eco-friendly tree houses, near water sources and panoramic views 2.6 Organization of 2 cultural and natural outdoor activities 2.7 Launching of 2 story telling contest to involve and encourage the young generation of artists to stay and promote their origins Component C: Integrated ICT technology to promote tourism potentials in both areas 3.1 Detailed data gathering of each route 3.2 Professional photo making and small 3D videos 3.3 Development of an interactive tours’ platform 3.4 Development of a hiker mobile app 3.5 GIS mapping the cultural and natural paths 3.6 Develop two touristic guides Component D: Training activities and cooperation networks 4.1 Trainings with municipal officials on the use and maintenance of IT platform and mobile-app 4.2 Trainings with local business representatives to introduce hospitality standards and English learning sessions at basic 4.3 Trainings with tourist operators on using the developed local touristic itineraries and touristic guides 4.4 Organization of 2 local fairs to promote and boost local crafts, with particular regard for women entrepreneurship 4.5 Organization of one joint guided tour 4.6 Know-how exchange workshop

Expected Results (EN):

Estimated results: 1. Promotion and valorisation of cultural and natural heritage in the CBC area; 2. Organization of cultural and natural outdoor activities highlighting local natural and cultural features and encouraging them to stay and promote their territories; 3. Improving digital information to tourists and visitors, by developing an interactive IT platform and mobile app; 4. Improving human resources capacities for proper use of the IT tools; 5. Supporting local craft SMEs with particular regard for women entrepreneurs, establishing a joint local network.

Thematic information

Tourism

Specific Objective: Tourism, cultural and natural heritage is valorised as a way to promote the economic development of the area

Thematic Priority: (d) Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Bashkia Kukës

Address: 8502 Kukës, Albania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.kukesi.gov.al/

Komuna e Rahovecit/Opština Orahovac

Name: Komuna e Rahovecit/Opština Orahovac

Address: 21000 Rahovec/Orahovac, Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244/1999

Legal status: public

Website: http://kk.rks-gov.net/rahovec

Green Art Center

Name: Green Art Center

Address: 10000 Prishtinë/Priština, Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244/1999

Legal status: private

Website: https://mjedisi.com/

Urban Research Institute

Name: Urban Research Institute

Address: 1000 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: private

Website: https://uri.org.al/

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Rahovec/Orahovac

Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Partners and Projects info

Green Art Center

Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Partners and Projects info

Urban Research Institute

Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Kukës

Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Project acronym: ECO-ROUTES

Project start date: 2022-03-15

Project end date: 2024-03-14

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 470 482.50

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 399 910.13

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 399 910.13.

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 IPA CBC Albania - Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-03-14

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

11 / 11 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

34 / 34 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Eco - Tourism Routes in the Cross-Border Area for the Promotion of Alternative Tourism

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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