"GreenPulse: Sustainable Tourism for Waterresources and Trails"

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro

Date of latest update: 2026-04-23

Description

Description (EN):

In recent years, attention to the role and potential of sustainable tourism at the European level has increased dramatically. Organizations operating in this area have development potential and innovation needs, assuming a key function for a fair and just transition of tourism to sustainable, green - ecological models. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen cross-border cooperation that starts from the area, sharing existing examples of good practice, knowledge exchange and innovative approaches of the public, economic and civil sectors. GREENPULSE intends to strengthen the capacities of the cross-border tourism offer with sustainable, innovative models of tourism practice through the engagement of all involved partners and their network of associates. The proposed pilot action models will be tested through the activities of the involved partners, after which the feedback will be analyzed, the strengths and weaknesses of the established models will be identified and improvements will be offered with guidelines that will be shared at the local, national and European level through the Action Plan. The project idea aims to develop a green - sustainable, innovative and attractive cross-border tourist product that capitalizes and preserves water resources on bicycle paths and pedestrian tourist destinations as its heritage. This diversifies the tourist offer with related products and services, contributing to the increase of the green economy and improving the quality of tourism, sustainability, accessibility, skills, information and innovation, in order to reduce the consequences of excessive tourism. In this sense, the relevant areas of activity are: - develop a diverse cross-border tourist offer, based on the model of "green" principles and sustainability, valorizing the tangible and intangible heritage that exists along the cycling and hiking trails alongside water resources; - establish cross-sectoral cooperation among tourism service providers at the local, regional and cross-border level, with the aim of improving the overall quality of the tourist offer, in all segments of the tourist offer chain; - influence the reduction of harmful CO2 emissions in tourist destinations along with water resources with new models of tourist offer; - encourage new models of tourist behavior in cross-border areas in order to reduce the negative effects of excessive tourism and its harmful impact on water resources in urban areas (Makarska, Budva and Bar); - expanding the offer of the urban areas of Makarska, Budva and Bar to the rural areas of their local communities, - development of innovative contents in the rural area of the protected area of Hutovo Blato, including solutions based on nature.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During the first reporting period, the project GREENPULSE was in its preparatory stage. The Lead Partner, City of Makarska, together with project partners, successfully established the administrative and coordination framework required for the efficient implementation of the project. This included the appointment of the project management team, initial coordination meetings with partners, and the preparation of internal procedures for financial management, reporting, and communication. While no physical implementation activities have been carried out yet, this initial phase ensured that all partners are aligned with the approved work plan and budget, and that the conditions for smooth execution of project activities in the following periods are secured. In particular, the Lead Partner coordinated the exchange of information related to upcoming procurement procedures, clarified roles and responsibilities in relation to work packages, and prepared the timeline for the start of technical activities. The main added value of cooperation during this start-up phase lies in building mutual understanding and reinforcing cross-border coordination mechanisms, which are essential for later implementation. Partners agreed on joint approaches to stakeholder involvement, visibility actions, and the monitoring of progress. This groundwork provides a solid foundation for the forthcoming activities that will directly contribute to the development of sustainable tourist routes, transformation of cross-border tourism products, and the pilot action focused on innovative green tourism models. In summary, although tangible outputs are not yet delivered, the reporting period has been crucial for establishing the organisational, financial, and communication framework, thereby ensuring that the project is ready to progress to its implementation stage in the next period. During the reporting period, the project moved from the preparatory phase to the initial implementation phase. A key achievement was the launch of the public procurement procedure for the reconstruction of the coastal promenade on Osejava (EuroVelo 8 route), representing a major step towards the implementation of planned infrastructure investments. In parallel, the Lead Partner implemented important communication activities, including the development of the project’s visual identity and the preparation and delivery of promotional materials. These activities were carried out through service contracts and represent the first tangible outputs of the project in terms of visibility and communication. Furthermore, project partners participated in a study visit in Andalusia (Spain) from 23 to 25 October 2025, where they exchanged knowledge and collected good practices related to sustainable mobility, cycling infrastructure and destination management. Although certain activities were delayed due to the need to adjust technical documentation and repeat procurement procedures, the project has established a solid foundation for further implementation. The cooperation between partners and exchange with external stakeholders contributed to strengthening the project’s transnational dimension and future impact.

Project outputs: Turistic sites of Cycling, hiking and pedestrian paths improved(EN)
Developed urban-rural connections of tourist destinations along water resources(EN)
Project partners cooperating across borders(EN)

Thematic information

Tourism Rural and peripheral development

Priority: (VI-A_HR-B-ME_4) Sustainable and inclusive tourism and culture

Priority specific objective: RSO4.6. Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO4 A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Type of intervention: 078 Protection, restoration and sustainable use of Natura 2000 sites

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: Grad Makarska

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR3515145212

Department: City of Makarska

Address: Obala Kralja Tomislava , 21300 Makarska, Croatia

Department address: Obala Kralja Tomislava , 21300 Makarska, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.makarska.hr

Total budget: EUR 711 805.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 605 034.76

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 106 770.84

Javno preduzeće za upravljanje morskim dobrom Crne Gore

Name: Javno preduzeće za upravljanje morskim dobrom Crne Gore

Department: Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 81/31-03710-5

Address: Ulica Popa Jola Zeca , 85310 Budva Budva, Montenegro

Department address: Ulica Popa Jola Zeca , 85310 Budva, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.morskodobro.com/

Total budget: EUR 262 047.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 222 739.95

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 307.05

Contractors:

Name: Biljana Trtica Vujanić
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A
Name: NT Project doo, Podgorica
VAT registration or tax identification number: 30/31-07366-8
Name: KOMO DOO Nikšić
VAT registration or tax identification number: 40/31-01603-2
Name: IB Invest doo Podgorica
VAT registration or tax identification number: 30/31-16456-6

Grad Čapljina

Name: Grad Čapljina

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 227113340001

Address: Trg Kralja Tomislava , 88300 Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Department address: Trg Kralja Tomislava , 88300 Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://capljina.ba/

Total budget: EUR 247 244.84

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 210 158.11

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 086.73

Contractors:

Name: Ines Ćorić
VAT registration or tax identification number: /

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro

"GreenPulse: Sustainable Tourism for Waterresources and Trails"

Partners and Projects info

City of Capljina

"GreenPulse: Sustainable Tourism for Waterresources and Trails"

Partners and Projects info

City of Makarska

"GreenPulse: Sustainable Tourism for Waterresources and Trails"

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): "GreenPulse: Sustainable Tourism for Waterresources and Trails"

Project acronym: GREENPULSE

Project ID: HR-BA-ME00331

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2026-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Endemic Pathway - ePATH (EN) | The "Endemic pathway - ePATH" project was approved for financing at the II Call for Project Proposals within the trilateral "Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Program Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro 2014-2020" with the aim of strengthening and diversifying the tourist offer through cross-border cooperation and improving the management and sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage. The main goal of this project is to create a joint tourist offer in 3 protected areas through the promotion of natural (endemic species) and cultural values. The project was carried out by most of this partners and they gained valuable experience, skills and knowledge that they decided to continue in the new program area in the form of good practice and positive changes in their communities.
The project improved a number of tourist facilities that support sensitive ecosystems, created a joint thematic trail dedicated to endemic species, and created a new tourist product. Compared to the first project that promoted protected areas, this project is focused on parts of destinations with water resources.
The project in question is innovative in that it responds to problems caused by overtourism. There are no similar projects implemented so far on this topic, but some projects are an inspiration as examples of good practice. The inspiration for a holistic approach that connects all stakeholders relevant to sustainable tourism was the Good Practice interreg project -https://www.interregeurope.eu/good-practices/the-green-scheme-of-slovenian-tourism-gsst
The inspiration for the inclusion of the SME sector in sustainable tourism offer models is Good practice from Romania and Bulgaria - https://www.interregeurope.eu/good-practices/natural-heritage-naturalbio-resources-services-natbiot (EN), MedCycleTour (EN) | The project is in accordance with the Route Development Activity Plan for Croatia
for the period from 2018 to 2030, which was created as part of the MedCycleTour Mediterranean route - EuroVelo 8 project, and given that LP City of Makarska is investing in a bicycle path that is part of the EuroVelo 8 path. Therefore, when planning the project and creating the Master Project, the City of Makarska followed the guidelines of this strategic planning document. In addition, the project is in line with this action plan, given that the goal of the MedCycle project is the development of sustainable and responsible tourism through the development and promotion of the Mediterranean cycle tourism route, to which the GREENPULSE project contributes. The project includes the activities of networking stakeholders, determining the exact situation on the route and the need for development, creating an activity plan, ensuring the continuation of development after the completion of the project, which this project contributes to. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 221 097.44

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 037 932.82

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

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 1 037 932.82. Co-financing rate, 85.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I1.2 - Cycling and pedestrian trail Capljina - EUR 120 750.00 - country: Bosnia & Herzegovina, town: Capljina , street: , , postal_code: , Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine (BA02), Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine (BA020)
I1.1 - Pedestrian and cycling path - Eurovelo 8 - EUR 393 600.00 - country: Hrvatska (HR), town: Makarska, street: , , postal_code: , Jadranska Hrvatska (HR03), Splitsko-dalmatinska županija (HR035)

Deliverables:

Developed system of bicycle and pedestrian accessible paths
Equipped and content-enriched paths
Promotional material
Report from 3 held presentations and 9 focus groups
Report of at least 6 meetings held to develop the Strategy
Strategy of Sustainable Tourism Destination Management
Reports of 9 held trainings
Report on 9 completed training programs
Trip to EURO VELO 8 area
Report with analysis and database of stakeholders and their contents
A report with an analysis and database of stakeholders and their contents
Report from the cycle of held educations
Mobile offline application with QR codes

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal Concretely: Project aligns with the Green Deal initiative by addressing environmental, social, and economic aspects of tourism. The project contributes to Climate Neutrality by reducing greenhouse emissions through monitoring, raising awareness and offering green solutions and Sustainable transport by promoting Cycling culture in tourist areas. It brings efforts to protect and preserve natural resources such as water, biodiversity, and landscapes. Project implements water conservation measures, promotes sustainable land use, and supports protected areas in the 3 programme countries. It corresponds to Biodiversity and Ecosystem protection through exchange of good practices and piloting solutions for sustainable land and water management practices. It also contributes to the Elimination of pollution through monitoring CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable tourist products. Project offers an educational campaign to raise awareness among tourists and tourism industry stakeholders about the importance of sustainable practices and the impact of their choices. GreenPulse focuses on enhancing resilience to climate change impacts, such as promoting adaptive measures in coastal areas and vulnerable regions. It also promotes the goal of Global Leadership through international efforts and collaboration on global environmental issues to combat climate change and encourage other countries to adopt similar sustainable policies
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion By incorporating eco-friendly initiatives, the project helps minimize the negative environmental impacts of tourism, conserve natural resources, and protect the unique biodiversity of the Adriatic region. Project involves and empowes local communities, enabling it to contribute to the social and economic development of the region while respecting and promoting its diverse cultural assets. Project activities play a crucial role in the conservation of marine ecosystems and in promoting responsible coastal development of the Adriatic sea.
Activities contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, promoting sustainable transport options, and developing resilient infrastructure to prepare the region for climate-related challenges. Green pulse facilitates cross border collaboration between different stakeholders, such as tourism authorities, local businesses, and NGOs, to jointly work towards sustainable tourism goals. The infrastructural works envisioned answer to EUSAIR's objective of promoting sustainable investments.
The project explores and promotes alternative and sustainable tourism offerings, such as nature-based tourism to reduce the region's dependency on mass tourism and promote a more diverse and sustainable tourism sector. The Pilot activity of the project contributes to the monitoring and evaluation of tourism-related activities in the region, providing valuable data and insights to support evidence-based policymaking within the EUSAIR framework. Project activities include awareness-raising campaigns and capacity-building activities for local stakeholders and tourists to promote sustainable practices and behaviors.
Other Project is also in line with the Transition pathaway for tourism strategy as it fosters a cross border collaboration between all stakeholders, unnderstading the importance to ensure sustainable tourism that generates positive net effects for the visited communities around the tourism destination.
Project stakeholders include public and private-sector organisations, local producers and services, cultural and creative sectors and industries, local authorities, tourism management
organisations and local associations and residents as a key to accomplish green and sustanable tourism actions.
Other The project is in line with the PA3 “Culture & Tourism” of the EUSDR Strategy and its objective “Promote sustainable tourism in the Danube Region and capitalize on EUSDR projects in the areas of culture, nature, and tourism” because it aims to lower the effects of a mass and seasonal tourism industry that generates negative consequences, mostly in relation to the overexploitation of natural resources.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 120 - Projects supporting cooperation across borders to develop urban-rural linkages, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 077 - Visitors of cultural and tourism sites supported, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2025-12

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

37 / 37 (100%)

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

165 / 167 (98.8%)

Notes on the data

The end dates of project: - RACE 2 - APOLLO - CODES - SMART STEP are an approximation based on the programme's List of Operations available on the programme's website on 2024 -09-18. There the end date is marked in quarters. Partnership EmBRACE Combined total of all projects partnerships (11764705.47) in field total_budget is larger than projects total (1499617.98) of total_budget.

Languages

Contact Form

"GreenPulse: Sustainable Tourism for Waterresources and Trails"

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

Disclaimer