News Archive

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu at the high-level Regional Conference ‘Tourism as a Key to Sustainable Development’, where Western Balkans endorsed Tirana Declaration, on 8 April 2021 (Photo: RCC/Ani Media)

Western Balkans endorses Tirana Declaration to Support Tourism in the Region
08 Apr 2021

Sarajevo/Tirana – Ministers and representatives of the six Western Balkans (WB) governments endorsed the Tirana Declaration on supporting sustainable tourism recovery and growth in the region, at the high-level regional conference marking the finalisation of the Regional Cooperation Council ...

Regional Conference - Tourism as a Key to Sustainable Development, organized by the RCC to take place 7-8 April 2021

Tirana Declaration endorsement to mark the finalisation of RCC’s Tourism Development and Promotion project
06 Apr 2021

Sarajevo, Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Triple P Tourism Project are organising a 2-day Regional Conference - Tourism as a Key to Sustainable Development which will kick off on 7 April marking the finalisation of the RCC’s EU funded Triple P Tourism Development ...

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu and Acting Team Leader of RCC's Tourism Promotion and Development project Nikolaos Parastatidis at the award ceremony of the first regional FUTOURISMO competition held online on 2 March 2020 (Photo: RCC/Ani Media)

Bregu: Futourismo is a new hope to help our region recover its tourism
02 Mar 2021

Tirana/Sarajevo – Seven teams from the Western Balkans: •    Guidi for app Veni, Vidi, Guidi  •    BIB for 'Be in Balkan' Mobile Application,  •    Digital Clinic for e-Health Tourism •   ...

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Six Western Balkans projects aimed at helping region’s tourism to be awarded 15.000 EUR each, at a ceremony tomorrow
01 Mar 2021

Sarajevo/Tirana – On 3 February 2021, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Triple P Tourism Project launched the 1st regional FUTOURISMO competition, seeking innovative digital solutions that will help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the heavily affected ...

Western Balkans FUTOURISMO - a competition for best innovative digital solutions that will help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

RCC launches FUTOURISMO, regional competition to boost tourism in the Western Balkans
03 Feb 2021

Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its EU funded Tourism Project are organising the first Western Balkans FUTOURISMO competition, seeking innovative digital solutions that will help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the heavily affected sector of tourism. 

RCC is supporting Western Balkans tourism through art 

RCC: Supporting Western Balkans tourism through art
05 Jan 2021

Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) nurtures a beautiful blossom in its midst, with a substance more resilient than any form we try to give to our incentives, the project that promotes tourism, the natural beauties and unique art of our blessed countries.

11th meeting of the Tourism Expert Group (TEG) was held online on 3 June 2020 (Photo: RCC/Kristina Vesikj)


08 Jun 2020

Sarajevo – “These are very difficult times for the Western Balkans’ tourism as the consequences of the global corona virus pandemic took the highest toll on travel and tourism industries. For our region it is especially important to find the ways to support these industries and help them ...

On 18 May, International Museum Day, we are taking you to virtual tour through Western Balkan museums


18 May 2020

18th May is International Museum Day and today we are coming together to celebrate the history, art and cultural heritage throughout the museums in the Western Balkans. Museums around the world have closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, meanwhile their virtual tours are still open and ...

RCC's Tourism Development and Promotion project conducted a survey with tourism agencies and operators working from the Western Balkans on effects of COVID-19 to tourism sector


18 Apr 2020

Sarajevo – “As this pandemic keeps billions of people at home, one sector is already feeling the pinch - tourism.  One in five booked trips to Western Balkans planned for 2020 is cancelled. And this makes situation notoriously difficult, knowing that tourism contributes to 10.2% of ...

Balkan Monumental Tour


21 Feb 2020

BELGRADE – “We are very pleased to have used today, the Belgrade International Fair of Tourism, as a staging ground for the launch of the new joint regional cultural tourism route called the Balkan Monumental Trail,” said Snjezana Derviskadic, RCC’s Tourism Development and Promotion ...

WE: Meet Uta Ibrahimi, a first woman from Kosovo* to summit Everest and also a woman who dedicated herself to mountaineering and tourism exposing true beauties of Kosovo* and the region to as many people from the entire world as possible.


08 Jan 2020

RCC’s Women Empowerment - WE- campaign continues featuring remarkable women from the Western Balkans and brings you Uta Ibrahimi - “At the beginning they told me climbing was for men and I did a lot of work to prove them wrong and change that mentality. You can do the same, just listen ...

3rd call for proposals for tourism development grants published


02 Dec 2019

SARAJEVO – As the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) implemented and EU funded Tourism Development and Promotion Project enters its final stage, the RCC published the 3rd Call for Proposals for the award of tourism development grants in the Western Balkans. The total value of the call is ...

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu at the tourism grants award ceremony within the Tourism Development and Promotion Project, in Durres on 22 November 2019 (Photo: RCC/Armand Habazaj)


22 Nov 2019

Durres – “Today, with presenting the results of the completed 12 and awarding 16 new grants for the tourism development and promotion in the Western Balkans, we are showing you a part of the success story from this region, and it is not a success of policy-making or GDP but of the people. ...

Non-governmental organisations from Albania, Kosovo* and Serbia joined Via Dinarica regional coordination structure during a meeting organised by the RCC implemented and EU funded Tourism Development and Promotion Project in Tirana on 8 November 2019 (Photo: RCC/Madlina Puka)


08 Nov 2019

Non-governmental organisations from Albania, Kosovo* and Serbia joined today Via Dinarica regional coordination structure during a meeting organised by the RCC implemented and EU funded Tourism Development and Promotion Project in Tirana.

Fetije Nikiqi welcoming her guests from Germany at her B&B along Via Dinarica hiking trail which runs across the Western Balkans (Photo: RCC/Klicker)


07 Nov 2019

It is 11 o’clock on an idle Monday and about to start raining in a tiny village of Rekë e Allagës in Rugova Mountain, all green with pine trees. Fetije Nikiqi is well under way to prepare cheese pie in a wooden stove while Hozefa Indorewala looks to the sky from the porch thinking just how ...

RCC launches the next grant call: 750,000 EUR for developing tourism in the Western Balkans (Illustration: RCC/Sejla Dizdarevic)


10 Jun 2019

SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), under its Tourism Development and Promotion EU funded project, launched today the second in a row grant call for projects developing the tourism offer in the Western Balkans. While the grants scheme totals EUR 1.62 million, this second tranche ...

New trails and itineraries are now available to hikers of Via Dinarica in the Accursed Mountains. (Photo: Community Development Fund)


08 Jun 2019

PEJE/PEČ  - Community Development Fund, beneficiary of the RCC implemented and EU funded tourism development grant scheme, organize today a FAM trip for tour operators and media to inaugurate 6 newly developed sections of Via Dinarica trail in Kosovo* connecting it with the trail portions ...

River log-driving, practices by lumberjack in Tara Canyon prior to the WW2, has turned into modern day rafting and tourism attraction (Photo: Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives - CSTI)


07 Jun 2019

PODGORICA - A new attraction for hikers of Via Dinarica’s White Trail passing through Tara River Canyon in Montenegro was presented today in Podgorica. 

As of June 2019 Mokra Gora Mountain has become part of the Via Dinarica trail running across the Western Balkans. (Photo: Institute for Territorial Economic Development)


07 Jun 2019

ZUBIN POTOK - A brand new regional hiking trail running across Mokra Gora Mountain from Montenegro, across Kosovo* to Serbia was inaugurated today in Zubin Potok. The trail was developed by the Institute for Territorial Economic Development – InTER through an RCC implemented and EU funded ...

Newly developed Accursed Cultour provides cultural componet to Via Dinarica trail running through the Accursed Mountians. (Photo: Institute for Public and Private Policies)


06 Jun 2019

TIRANA – Stunningly beautiful nature of the Accursed Mountains settled between Albania, Kosovo* and Montenegro just got its cultural edge. From now on, colourful legends, verbal history, songs, dances, crafts and cuisine of local communities living in remote mountainous villages are going ...

EXIT Foundation, a beneficiary of the RCC implemented and EU funded tourism development grant scheme and a winner of the RCC’s champion of regional cooperation award, launched the Creative History Balkans Tour which takes visitors to four amazing fortresses in the region, in Novi Sad on 5 June 2019 (Photo: EXIT Foundation)


05 Jun 2019

NOVI SAD – With the summer at our door, the Western Balkans cultural tourism offers just got richer. EXIT Foundation, a beneficiary of the RCC implemented and EU funded tourism development grant scheme and a winner of the RCC’s champion of regional cooperation award, launched today in Novi ...

Legends of the Fortress, regional cultural tourism route, includes Caste of Lezhë in Albania, Strač Fortress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Spuž Fortress in Montenegro (Photo: Danilovgrad Municipality)


05 Jun 2019

DANILOVGRAD - Danilovgrad Municipality, through an RCC provided and EU funded tourism development grant, has revived three fortresses in three Western Balkans economies. 

New horseback riding route running through Western Balkans takes visitors from Vojvodina in the north to Hercegovina in the south (Photo: Palic Cluster)


30 May 2019

Subotica – The latest Western Balkans tourism attraction – a 500 kilometres long horseback riding route running from Vojvodina in the north to Hercegovina in the south – was inaugurated today in Subotica. 

The mobile application – Skopje Gems, developed by the Institute for Strategic Research and Education (ISIE), RCC's funded Tourism Development and Promotion Project grantee, which is to guide tourists in Skopje Old Town was presented on 18 may 2019 in Skopje (Illustration: ISIE)


18 May 2019

Skopje - Starting today, visitors of the Skopje Old Town, Čaršija, will be able to experience it in a completely new way. Coming to their service is the mobile application – Skopje Gems - that provides seven guided cultural tours through Čaršija and takes visitors to the doorsteps of ...

Balkan Monumental Trail encompasses region’s iconic World War II (WWII) monuments


14 May 2019

SARAJEVO - Among the Western Balkans cultural tourism routes that the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Tourism Development and Promotion project is currently developing, is the so called Balkan Monumental Trail that encompasses region’s iconic World War II (WWII) monuments. 

Within two hundred meter radius in downtown Sarajevo one can visit Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals, Mosques and Synagogues. (Photo: Shutterstock)


07 May 2019

SARAJEVO - Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures (SMOC), beneficiary of the RCC implemented and EU funded Tourism Development and Promotion Grant Scheme, presented today in Sarajevo a new regional tourism route based on cultural diversity of the Western Balkans. 

RCC promoted the Western Balkans at the Balkan Trafik! Festival on 24-28 April 2019 (Photo: RCC/Nikola Gaon)


29 Apr 2019

Brussels – For the past few days Brussels replaced its political foretoken as a European political centre and became a hub for Western Balkan art and culture. The 13th edition of Balkan Trafik! Festival (BTF), which took place 24-28 April, promoted the best of the Western Balkans (WB) and ...

Tourism industry accounts for 14 percent of employment in the Western Balkans. On photo: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Photo: Shutterstock)


25 Apr 2019

Belgrade – Planning of most viable itineraries along the two new Western Balkans cultural routes that are currently under development was the main topic discussed by the representatives of tourism agencies and tour operators from the region, at the meeting organized by the Regional Cooperation ...

Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route’s Illyricum Trail will run through Western Balkans and introduce visitors to some of the most amazing archaeological sites. (Photo: Danube Competence Center)


19 Apr 2019

BELGRADE - Danube Competence Center (DCC), beneficiary of the RCC Tourism Development and Promotion Project’s grant scheme, funded by the European Union, introduced yesterday in Belgrade the new and upcoming Western Balkans branch of the Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route’s called the ...

Samer Hajric promotes Via Dinarica trail at the Western Balkans-Powered by RCC.int stand at the ITB Berlin tourism fair, 7 March 2019 (Photo: RCC/Nikola Gaon)


12 Mar 2019

Berlin – Over the last five days, 19 tour operators from the Western Balkans promoted the regional tourism offer at a joint Western Balkans – Powered by RCC.int stand at the world’s leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin, which gathers some 10,000 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors.

Western Balkans' tours operators promote regional adventure tourism offer at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs fair in Utrecht, Netherlands. 1-3 March 2019, Powered by RCC (Photo: RCC/Nikola Gaon)


04 Mar 2019

Utrecht – Over the last three days, ten tour operators from the Western Balkans presented the best of regional adventure tourism offer at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs fair at Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands, within the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) EU-funded, Tourism Development ...

Building a Regional Network Across Culture (Photo: Institute of Public and Private Policies)


22 Feb 2019

Belgrade – The RCC’s Tourism Development and Promotion Project introduced today the three new Western Balkans cultural routes and presented the development work done by the three tourism grants recipients at the largest international tourism fair in the South East European – IFT Belgrade.

The 8th semi-annual meeting of the South East Europe Tourism Expert Group (TEG) under auspices of the RCC’s Tourism Development and Promotion Project, in Vienna, 6 December 2018 (Photo: RCC/Nikola Gaon)


06 Dec 2018

VIENNA – The South East Europe Tourism Expert Group (TEG) endorsed a joint plan establishing the regional cultural and adventure tourism routes for the Western Balkans six, at the meeting held in Vienna today. 

The Regional Cooperation Council’s Tourism Development and Promotion Project prepared and presented the new joint regional umbrella identity concept dubbed “Western Balkans - Crossroads of Civilisations”, at the WB Tourism Focus Group meeting held in Podgorica on 14 November 2018 (Photo: RCC/Nikola Gaon)


14 Nov 2018

Podgorica - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Tourism Development and Promotion Project prepared and presented the new joint regional umbrella identity concept dubbed “Western Balkans - Crossroads of Civilisations”, at the WB  Tourism Focus Group meeting held today in Podgorica.

Launch of the RCC-led Tourism Development and Promotion Project, in Sarajevo City Hall on 28 June 2018 (Photo:RCC/Armin Durgut)


08 Nov 2018

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will award the first twelve grants in total worth of EUR 550,000 for the development and promotion of tourism in the Six Western Balkans economies, at a ceremony in Sarajevo tomorrow. 

Tourism Development Grant Scheme


15 Jul 2018

Sarajevo – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat launched today 1.62-million-euros worth grant scheme that will be utilised to improve infrastructure and quality of services along regional cultural and adventure tourism routes. 

Launch of the RCC-led Tourism Development and Promotion Project, in Sarajevo City Hall on 28 June 2018 (Photo:RCC/Armin Durgut)


28 Jun 2018

SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) officially marked the beginning of its 3-year project dedicated to the development and promotion of tourism in the Western Balkans, in Sarajevo today. The project will help six Western Balkans economies to diversify and consolidate their cultural ...

Participants of the RCC Tourism Expert Group (TEG) Meeting, in Sarajevo and Jahorina on 27 June 2018 (Photo: RCC/Nikola Gaon)


27 Jun 2018

Sarajevo – The South East Europe Tourism Expert Group (TEG) adopted “Crossroads of Civilisations” as a regional tourism identity that will be applied throughout all the routes development efforts in the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Tourism Development and Promotion ...