The French Embassy & Caritas BK BiH & Alterural – Association for the development of Rural Tourism BiH

 organized the round table devoted to the development of rural tourism on the 5th and 6th of May at  Aquareumal Fojnica

The round table was organized regarding the first official visit of René SOUCHON, President of the Regional Council of Auvergne, in order to analize the possibilities of the tourism development in rural areas as the main tool for the development and integration of youth and reduction in the trend of rural exodus.

The round table, next to President, with welcoming words officialy opened: Salkan MERDŽANIĆ, Mayor of Fojnica, Dominique GESLIN, Advisor for culture of the Embassy of France in Bosnia and Herzegovina and fra Miljenko STOJIĆ, Director of Caritas BK BiH. The event was welcomed by representatives of government and entities, and participants were mayors, representatives of municipalities, experts and professionals from BiH, France (particular region of Auvergne) and Serbia.

The first day of the event, 5th of May, paricipants visited the rural house in the village Obojak (area of the Prokoško lake) and the rural house of Tuka family in the village Lužine (Fojnica) which are the old traditional bosnian houses renovated by Caritas International Belgium and Caritas BK BiH. In addition to tasting the famous Bosnian coffee, rakija and home made cakes prepared by the hosts, participants had opportunity to witness that rural tourism is a good way to earn additional income to rural families.

The second day of the event, 6th of May, the state in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of rural tourism on the state and the entity levels was presented by Nedeljko Babić on behalf of the Ministry of  Environment and Tourism FBiH, Jelena Gavrilović on behalf of Ministry of Trade and Tourism RS and Suad Đafić on behalf of the Commision for the Coordination of Youth issues in BiH. Experts from France, BiH and Serbia presented the new trends of rural tourism, internet as inevitable instrument of commercialization of rural and eco tourism, while the last part of the agenda was devoted to general enviromental matters.

The president René SOUCHON stressed in his last remarks that the metodology is the key for the rural tourism development and that any program is not possible without public services and improving presentation via internet. Rural tourism is inseparable from economic growth of the municipalities and offers the new possibilites to young people. He pointed out the similarity of  the Auvergne region with BiH which has excellent potential for tourism development in rural areas. H.E. Roland Gilles, Ambassador of France in BiH closed the round table saying that the Embassy of the Republic of France will continue to support these type of activities.

In collaboration with the Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Celje, Caritas and Alterural organized a study tour to Slovenia on the development of rural tourism.

10 people from allover BiH which are already engaged in rural tourism or are planning to, stayed from 20th to 22nd 10. on Stoglej farm where they attended numerous lectures and practical workshops. Participants in this study tour were: Asim Vilić and Dževad Šovšić from Gorazde (recommended by Caritas Swiss and association Odmor na selu ), Jovo Rujevac and Mihajlo Maric from Trebinje ( recommended by Trebinje Municipality ), and Muhamed Jašarević and Asim Dedic  from Bratunac ( recommended by Enfant Europe Bosnie ), Josip Brdjanovic from Kraljeva Sutjeska , Josip Trogrlić from Kresevo and Milica Tuka ( Caritas beneficiaries ) and Elvis Zuka from Fojnica. Participants had the opportunity to visit examples of good practice, farm Juvanija, Bevšek Ošep.

The best part of the workshop for all participants was practical session on setting tables, serving and arranging napkins and communicating with guests. They are more than satisfied with what they saw and heard, practical advices that they will certainly be able to implement in the future.  Most of the participants are hoping that this or similar workshops will be organized in their places so that more people who are involved in some aspect of rural tourism will have opportunity to learn something new.

The first visitors were guests from France who expressed their satisfaction with the accommodation and recommended to their parents to visit this farm. The guest house is situated within the yard of the Tuka family’s house which is approximately one hundred years old, and has at its’ disposal two triple rooms in the attic, a living room, a small kitchen and a bathroom on the ground floor. They are offering domestic products to their guests such as: juices, jams, cheese, eggs, brandy, honey, fruits, vegetables and local specialties, at very affordable prices.

The price for the room rent amounts to 15 Euros per person in summer and 18 Euros during the winter season. Besides enjoying local food, guests can also participate in daily activities on the farm, like for example guests from Germany who stayed at the farm for 10 days and during that time they occasionally helped the hosts feed animals or assisting in the garden.

Although, initially, they were a bit skeptical, Milica and Josip Tuka are now convinced that rural tourism can be a good source of additional income. Thus, they are taking into consideration to expand and trying to attract people to stay longer at their premises. Their five children are helping the family by maintaining the house and welcoming guests.

The Tuka family is the very first family in this region beginning to engage in rural tourism and as they say they are satisfied with this great inception. They hope there will be more domestic guests deciding themselves for this type of tourism and, by doing so, identifying the advantages and beauty of villages.

Since we have had a very good cooperation with PD Vranica we have decided to support this project aiming to help this association in signposting marking and equipping of three thematic trekking trails in total length of 13 km in Vlasic mountain area. The main part of the work was finished by the end of September while some details are remaining to be done in coming period. These action were taken in August for three days and in September from 24^th -16^th by 8 members of this association.

The aim of this meeting was the Year 2010 dedicated to fight against poverty and social exclusion  through 10 thematic workshops, one of which was devoted to poverty in rural areas, three issues of migrants, three Roma issues and the last three issues of homeless people. Through these workshops we have tried to answer various questions such as: What can Caritas do to improve social, health, cultural and economic policy, taking into account the poverty in rural areas?, Is it possible that migration policy could satisfy both the interests of migrants and the receiving state? Are Roma “second class people” in their countries and the European Union? … etc.

By answering these questions Caritas Europa submitted a proposal to the Council of Europe on behalf of more than 800 participants from Caritas network in Europe.

Hundred representatives of Caritas from different countries (Armenia, Bosnia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Kosovo, Turkey, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine …) had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and they officially submit their proposals.

“We met in Cluny with 800 people from 24 countries including 37 different nationalities. Now, hundred of us are here to submit our proposals to you. Who are we? We are human beings united in faith and hope in people. For a year we’ll come and ask you what you have done to unlock the door of human rights.” – Francois Soulage – president of Secours Catholique.

Caritas Europa will participate in workshops organized by the Council of Europe related specifically to the issues that were discussed in this meeting. This is how the experiences and problems of the entire network of Caritas will be presented to the oldest political organization on the European continent that aims to fight for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

“Fojnička trpeza” was  organized as a closing event of three years Caritas BC BiH and Caritas International Belgium  project in this municipality. The main objective of this project was an assistance in developing agriculture and rural tourism. During the project, about a eight hundred people are directly supported by Caritas, through various activities such as trainings, workshops, visits to fairs and study tours and through the award of grants and micro loans.

More info on : www.ue-tourisme-rural.fr/programme__11_programme-general_.html

A unique meeting…

The Rural Tourism Summer is organized annually since 1991 by source, the national center of tourism resources and rural heritage in France.

What is innovation? Why and how to innovate? What says innovation to the challenges of developing rural tourism and mountain? These issues were at the heart of debates in this 20th edition of the Summer University of rural tourism in Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain) around the theme “Dare ‘ innovation in supply. “This trade event is organized by Source, a national center of tourism resources and rural heritage, initiator of the event, Rhone-Alpes Tourism, Aïntoura, Bourg-en-Bresse Community and Tourist Office, the Departmental Federation of Tourist Unions and initiative of Ain, and the Joint Union of Basin Development of Bourg-en-Bresse Cap3B.

It is at once to enrich the debate on a specific issue of tourism development and to encourage meetings and exchanges between operators that may not have the opportunity to work together normally.

The program was designed to maximize possibilities for meetings, exchanges and housing situation. The highlights of these three days were:

* Keynote What is innovation in rural tourism?

* Looking back 20 years Summer University, the opportunity to come back in twenty years of meetings held throughout France;

* Mini-conferences with sharing of practical experiences of innovation in rural areas, which was an opportunity to offer new insights to renew its offer

* Field Day with visits, meetings with local operators and creative workshops, which brought participants to react, reflect and think of new innovative offerings for the host territory;

* Professional meetings targeted to extend the Summer University on the afternoon of the last day, which enabled participants to explore initiatives and actions of the organizing partners;

* And an entertainment program … : Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Summer University, convivial evening, visit “shifted” from Bourg-en-Bresse, shows!

I came to Bosnia and Travnik five years ago to fly for myself because I read in one guide book  that  the place was protected from the wind therefore good for paragliding. After one fly, I met Sanel (who became his partner in flying) who manifested the desire to fly and we tried to make a  tandem. After flying in tandem, he wanted to learn. Therefore, after returning to France, I decided to come with a  friend to teach all those who were willing to know how to fly. At the same time, I met Ivana who  became my wife. When we returned to France, there was need the material for those who learnt. I started working to see how I can bring some materials to enable them to fly. I succeeded on founding some free paragliding in France . People in France were wiling to give something to support this initiative. These materials helped them to fly and to continue to fly even if I was not there. After some time we decided to organize a small festival to show this sport to other people  and to make it possible for those who may be interested. In addition, by organizing the festival, we wanted to show that this was also possible here, not only in France or in other big countries, or that what they used to see on TV was possible. I also came with some instructors from France; we organized some activities like climbing, motto cross, bike, accro branch, to see how others mountain activities were possible. After  we analyzed the local potential with friends from France when we returned , we decided to focus at the beginning only on paragliding and to develop it until the end. This was because teaching was had many courses (tandem, take off, landing…). We could not implement everything

Every year now, people from France come to fly, to exchange and to help those who are willing to learn. A technician from the EDF board came and did tandem, many other people took part and everybody showed good interest. Today, the activity is on the move. The present small club organizes tourists visits for those who are coming to show them Travnik and environs, in order to make their stay livelier. At the same time, they do tandem with people of Travnik for free.

The main point is to make an exchange between all the visitors, those who practice paragliding and the local population. We believe that this can help  the development of tourism in Travnik.

This sport is so nice because it helps to built relations, to have confidence in each other. You cannot fly with somebody if you do not have confidence in him. Moreover, for tourism, you meet people, spent time with them, share their way of living.

It is not always common to have this type of multicultural place like Bosnia and I think it is  a good way to be open to each other.

People coming do enjoy their stay and trough paragliding, we are trying to show the city and the country to everybody.

Our objective is to form an association where everybody can come and enjoy this sport while discovering the place. We do not want to become a club because it may be closed to many for maybe money reason.

Here I have social life I don’t have in France. I can work there but my social life is here.

I encourage everybody to come but most importantly to respect the local life.