With the support of the European Union, the municipalities of Plužine and Foča continued work on improving the safety of tourist locations
On Monday, December 21, 2020 the municipalities of Plužine (Montenegro) and Foča (BiH) organized the fourth coordination meeting for members of their rescue services (civil protection, police, health facilities, fire services and associations, protection services and rescue, GSS) within the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (TARA)” which is supported by the European Union. The meeting discussed ways to search and rescue in the mountains, as well as ways to search and rescue in white waters (wild waters) and canyons.
In addition to presenting examples of positive and negative rescue practices in the territory of the two countries, representatives of rescue services were introduced to the philosophy of rescue, the training necessary to become a rescuer, priorities and stages of rescue and environmental assessment. The participants of the meeting were presented with the personal equipment necessary for a lifeguard on wild waters, and they had the opportunity to look at photos and videos on the procedure in case of search and rescue on fast waters.
The coordination meeting was held in the premises of the Center for Culture and Information in Foča, while the participants from Plužine followed the meeting via a video link.
Info point in Foča operational for registration of rafting participants
We are very pleased to inform you that the info point for registering rafting visitors – participants in the Municipality of Foča has been put into operation thanks to the support of the European Union.
On the previously built facility, which is located on the 4th kilometer of the new road along the right bank of the Tara River, in the village of Hum, the installation of a set of solar panels has been completed, which enables electricity supply and uninterrupted operation of the facility.
This facility has primarily the function of recording visitors – participants in rafting tourism, but also other tourists who come to visit this attractive area. At the info point, all visitors will be able to get the necessary information related to rafting tourism, as well as on sightseeing points in the area, other attractions in the Municipality of Foca, including information on accommodation, gastronomic offer, cultural and historical heritage and similar.
Installation a solar set on the info point for recording visitors – participants who come for rafting in the Municipality of Foca is one of activities of the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A)” implemented by the Municipalities of Plužine and Foča, in cooperation with Nature Park Piva and Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Foča, and is financed by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Cross-Border Cooperation Program BiH-MNE.
Kayaking adventure in Plužine and Foča
We are very pleased to inform you that the Municipality of Plužine has procured ten kayaks for calm and fast waters with accompanying equipment within the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A.) funded by the European Union. Kayaking is an attractive tourist product that promotes the tourist potential of the Municipality of Plužine and the Municipality of Foča. Kayaking on Piva Lake will be a great experience for tourists who like easy kayaking, while lovers of adrenaline have the opportunity to experience a kayaking adventure on the fast waters of Piva and Tara rivers.
Kayaking is an unusual and original way to discover the hidden shores of Piva Lake, the Piva and Tara rivers, to explore river beaches, backwaters, caves and the surrounding wildlife. You will enjoy every stroke – the resistance of water, the effort of the body and the smell of freshness. It’s a great way to get closer to nature and see the world around you, quietly moving through tucked-in landscapes and watching scenes that many people will never see in person.
The project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A.)” is implemented by the Municipality of Plužine and the Municipality of Foča, in cooperation with the Nature Park “Piva” and the Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Foča, and funded by the European Union within the Program for cross-border cooperation BiH-MNE.
Foto Škiljević Željko
Foto Predrag Vuckovic
Rescue equipment purchased
Rescue equipment purchased
In order to improve safety in the project area, rescue equipment (mostly on water) was procured for the Municipalities of Plužine and Foča within the project. The combined vehicle rescue tool was procured for the Municipality of Plužine, while diving suits, a rescue boat, a diving computer, diving knives, a diving battery and a surface marker buoy, a canyoning belt, aluminum mesh stretchers, a floating canyon rope, descender, canyon rescue stretcher bag, compatible with mesh rescue stretchers were purchased for the needs of Municipality of Foča.
In addition, 4 metal cans with first aid packages were purchased, which will be placed at the main tourist locations in the cross-border area, so that tourists can use them in case of an accident.
WILDLIFE AND BIRD-WATCHING IN NATURE PARK PIVA AND NATIONAL PARK SUTJESKA
We are very pleased to inform you that the platforms for bird-watching and wildlife-watching has been installed with the financial support of the EU in the Nature Park “Piva” (Municipality of Plužine) and the National Park “Sutjeska” (Municipality of Foča).
Bird-watching and wildlife-watching is a sustainable, ecological way of using biodiversity resources, and the creation of this type of activity aims to attract tourists of special interest, contributing to increasing the number of tourists in the municipalities of Plužine and Foča, as well as the Nature Park Piva and the National Park Sutjeska.
Two platforms for wildlife-watching and one for bird-watching have been installed in very attractive locations in the Nature Park Piva, in Jerinići (Jasikovac), Baucali and Barni dol (Bešići). Two platforms for bird-watching and one for wildlife-watching have also been installed in the Sutjeska National Park, at Donje Bare, Dragoš selo and Prijevor.
Feel the untouched nature and observe chamois, brown bear, roe deer, bald eagle, black grouse, hawk, mouse, quail and other wild animals and birds in their natural environment in the area of the Nature Park Piva and NP Sutjeska.
Installation of platforms for wildlife and bird watching is one of activities of the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A)” implemented by the Municipalities of Plužine and Foča, in cooperation with the Nature Park Piva and the Tourist Organization of Foča, and funded by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Cross-Border Cooperation Program BiH-MNE.
The aim of the project is to develop and promote the cross-border area as a unique destination for active tourism. Realization began on December 1, 2019 and will last for two years, until the end of November 2021.
Agreement on cooperation in the field of protection and rescue signed between the municipalities of Foča (BiH) and Plužine (CG)
Yesterday, the Mayors of the Municipalities of Foča (BiH) and Plužine (Montenegro) signed a mutual agreement on cooperation in the field of protection and rescue in Foča within the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A.), financed by the European Union.” The agreement was signed between these municipalities, as well as between the National Park Sutjeska and the Nature Park Piva, all with the aim of improving the security of this cross-border area.
The general conditions for cooperation in protection and rescue from disasters are defined, and especially in the planning and implementation of measures for protection and rescue from floods, earthquakes, open fires, search and rescue in the mountains and other disasters. Among other things, the mehanisms of mutual notification in cases of danger and potential catastrophes, and mutual assistance in the implementation of preventive and operational protection and rescue measures are defined.
The Mayor of the Municipality of Foca, Radisav Masic, emphasized the importance of cooperation between these municipalities, both in the field of protection and rescue, and in other segments related to the improvement of the tourist offer in this cross-border area. Mijuško Bajagić, the Mayor of the Municipality of Plužine, praised the successful cooperation so far and emphasized the importance of connecting the National Park Sutjeska and the Nature Park Piva in the field of safety at tourist locations.
In addition to the agreement, the project also developed a Study on risks at tourist locations in these municipalities (available at: https://bit.ly/3nMqs05). Standard operating procedures for dealing with emergencies have been developed, as well as instructions for recording disaster events, reporting, data exchange, seeking and accepting assistance, which will be used by representatives of the rescue services of both municipalities.
The project is implemented by the municipalities of Plužine (Montenegro) and Foča (BiH), in cooperation with the Tourist Organization of Foča and the Nature Park Piva, with the aim to develop and promote the cross-border area of these two municipalities as unique tourist destinations for active tourism. The project is financed by the European Union in the amount of 499,654.00 euros within the Cross-border Cooperation Program BiH-Montenegro, and will last from December 1, 2019 to the end of November 2021.
STUDY ON RISKS IN NATURE PARK PIVA, TARA RIVER CANYON AND NATIONAL PARK SUTJESKA, AS WELL AS JOINT STANDARD OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEVELOPED
In order to map potential risks at tourist locations in the cross-border area of the Municipality of Plužine and the Municipality of Foča, a Study on risks in the Nature Park Piva (Montenegro), the Tara River Canyon and the National Park Sutjeska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) was prepared.
The study focuses on the potential risks to the safety of people, animals, cultural and material goods and the environment at the main tourist locations in these municipalities, ie. areas of the Nature Park “Piva”, the Tara River Canyon and the National Park “Sutjeska”, which includes determining the real individual risks for each of these three tourist locations.
Within this activity and with aim to improve safety at tourist locations and establish cross-border cooperation in the field of protection and rescue, standard operating procedures for emergency response and instructions for reporting on disaster events, reporting, data exchange, search and accepting assistance are also developed.
The Study and standard operating procedures will be distributed and used by representatives of rescue services from both municipalities.
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With the support of the European Union the municipalities of Plužine and Foča are working together to improve the safety of tourist locations
Last week, the municipalities of Plužine (Montenegro) and Foča (BiH), as part of the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (TARA)” supported by the European Union, organized the second coordination meeting for representatives of their rescue services (civil protection, police, health care institutions, fire services and associations, protection and rescue services, GSS ) where the management, coordination and planning in the protection and rescue system were discussed.
The importance of security at tourist locations was emphasized at the meeting, as one of the most important aspects of the project. Regretting that the corona virus pandemic has slowed down certain project activities related to safety, it was stated that rescue equipment will be procured within the project which will improve the work of the rescue services. When the epidemiological situation allows, joint rescue drills will be organized, and safety exits in the Tara canyon will be installed. Participants had the opportunity to hear a lecture on the protection and rescue system in Montenegro and management and coordination in protection and rescue. One of the topics of the lecture was planning in the protection and rescue system with a focus on development of protection and rescue plans on national, local and entrepreneurial level, as a basis for the implementation of protection and rescue measures in the preventive, operational and remedial phase. The risks at tourist locations in these municipalities are analyzed, as well as the ways in which rescue services act. Participants shared their experineces in the work in rescue services, and proposals for the topics of the remaining six coordination meetings were given. Participants also received relevant materials (guides, instructions and brochures) on actions in case of earthquakes, floods and fires, both in buildings and outdoors.
The project is implemented by the municipalities of Plužine (CG) and Foča (BiH) in cooperation with the Nature Park “Piva” and the Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Foča, and is funded by the European Union within the Cross-border Cooperation Program BiH-Montenegro. The goal of the project is the development and promotion of the cross-border area of these two municipalities as unique tourist destination for active tourism.
The realization of the project began on December 1, 2019 and will last for two years, until the end of November 2021.
The first “PP PIVA – NP SUTJESKA TRAIL 2020” gathered runners from seven European countries
On Saturday, August 1, the municipalities of Foča (BiH) and Plužine (Montenegro) organized the first international mountain race “PP PIVA – NP SUTJESKA TRAIL” with the support of the European Union which gathered runners from seven European countries. More than 100 participants from BiH, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, UK and France competed in the 42km Strike (Marathon) category and the 25km Proletarian (Challenger) category, as well as in the 12km and 4km categories.
The starting locations were different. Competitors from the Strike category started from Čemerno, while competitors from the Proletarian category started the race from the Suha canyon. The location of the finish line and the announcement of the winner was at the central monument in Tjentište.
Dane Krstulović-Opara from Split was first in Strike category, while Snežana Đurić from Kragujevac won first place in the Proletarian category. After the announcement of the winner, Krstulović-Opara addressed the audience and emphasized that there were hard ascents and steep descents, but it is beautiful when you climb up and look at the Trnovacko Lake. He said that the nature here is fascinating and that, according to him, this area can hardly surpass anything, and that the vacation should be spent here, and not at sea coast.
The competitors pointed out that the race, although strenuous, is excellently organized and that the area of the National Park “Sutjeska” and the Nature Park “Piva” is ideal for this type of sport and recreation, as well as for active vacation. They also stated that the race trails were marked in detail, and the organizers made an effort to choose the most attractive areas in order to best present the tourist potentials of this cross-border area. Members of the Mountain Rescue Service of the Republika Srpska from Foča, who were deployed at checkpoints, were in charge of the safety of the participants.
The organizers of the race made an effort to comply with all measures of the competent institutions during the current coronary virus pandemic, due to which the number of participants is significantly lower than expected. However, the organizers state that they will strive to make this race a tradition and to gather an increasing number of sports, adventure and adrenaline lovers during the years.
The race was organized within the first edition of the Trekking League 2020, and is one of the activities of the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A.)” funded by the European Union under the Cross-Border Cooperation Program BiH – Montenegro.
The representative of the Municipality of Foča, Igor Čurčić, pointed out that the project will work on the development of new tourist products and branding of the cross-border area, improvement of tourist infrastructure, as well as on increasing safety at tourist locations.
The project is jointly implemented by the Municipalities of Plužine and Foča, in cooperation with the Nature Park “Piva” and the Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Foča with the aim of developing and promoting the cross-border area as a unique destination for active tourism. The realization started on December 1, 2019 and will last for two years, until the end of November 2021, and the project plans to hold another international mountain race for next year.
A floating pontoon has been installed at Piva Lake for easier and safer access to boats
We are very pleased to inform you that the installation of a floating pontoon on the beach in Plužine has been completed. The pontoon is installed with the purpose of bathers safer entering and exiting the water and easier access to boats who want to enjoy in Piva Lake cruising during the lower water level.
The installation of a floating pontoon at Piva Lake is one of the number of activities within the project “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (TARA)” implemented by the Municipalities of Plužine and Foča, in cooperation with the Nature Park “Piva” and the Tourist Organization of Foča. The project is funded by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Cross-border Cooperation Program BiH-Montenegro in the amount of 499,654.00 euros.