Improving the tourist offer of Eastern Serbia with the support of the EU

Work on the development of beaches and the installation of three pontoons on Bovansko Lake has begun in Sokobanja. The delivery of two electric tourist catamarans is expected soon, with the aim of further improving the offer of this tourist center while preserving the environment. The activities have been financially supported by the European Union.

These works are being carried out within the framework of the Magic of Eastern Serbia project, which aims to improve sustainable tourism in the territory that includes all four local governments in the Zaječar district. European Union funds of almost 1.2 million, allocated through the EU PRO Plus program implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with the Ministry for European Integration, will be invested in tourist and recreational facilities in Zaječar, Knjaževac, Sokobanja and Boljevac, in order to create a unified tourist offer.

In the municipality of Knjaževac, work is nearing completion on the expansion and development of the Banjica complex, where, in addition to works on communal infrastructure, water supply and sewage networks, the parking lot will be expanded and new sports fields and a children's park with new furniture will be built.

As part of the project, the City of Zaječar is working to complete the construction and furnishing of 16 bungalows in the youth camp in the park-forest “Kraljevica”, which is a gathering place for young people and children, scouts and hikers. Work is also planned to complete the construction of a canteen and shared toilets for guests who plan to camp here.

A pump track polygon will be built in the municipality of Boljevac, intended for cyclists, rollerblading and skateboarding, which will occupy an area of 750 meters. A 1,300-meter-long trim track with exercise equipment is also planned, and the municipality will also create tourist signage to mark tourist attractions and cultural and historical heritage.

With this EU support, the entire Zaječar district is working to improve tourism and additionally activate its natural and tourist potential, such as Stara Planina, Rtanj, Bovansko Lake, the natural thermal water source in Rgoška Banja, as well as archaeological sites, such as Felix Romuliana. Through the project, which is being implemented in cooperation with RARIS, the Regional Agency for the Development of Eastern Serbia, a joint tourism product will be developed, namely a card that will offer the convenience of visiting multiple tourist attractions, sites, and museums with one joint ticket, and allowing tourists to extend their stay in this territory.

The Magic of Eastern Serbia project originated from the Urban Development Strategy of the city of Zaječar and the municipalities of Boljevac, Knjaževac and Sokobanja, which was developed with the support of the EU through the EU PRO Plus programme and which represents the basis for the sustainable development of the entire territory. This is one of 18 integral projects, resulting from territorial strategies, which the European Union supports with more than 9.6 million euros through the EU PRO Plus programme. These projects will activate the potential and resources of the given territories, help in solving common problems and promote the joint work of larger cities and smaller municipalities, with the active participation of the civil and business sectors and local communities, and thus contribute to a better life for the population in 30 local governments.

EU support for integral territorial development continues through the EU INTEGRA programme, which has been implemented since January this year by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SКGO) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in cooperation with the Ministry for European Integration. The program, funded by the EU with 15 million euros, aims to modernize local governments in Serbia through the implementation of European models for integrated territorial and sustainable urban development that have been piloted through EU PRO Plus.

The European Union is supporting the activities of the EU PRO Plus programme, which contributes to a more balanced socio-economic development of Serbia, with 40 million euros. The programme, implemented by the Ministry for European Integration, aims to contribute to improved management of territorial development, economic growth and improvement of social infrastructure and cohesion in 99 local self-government units, in two regions: the Region of Šumadija and Western Serbia and the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia. Field activities are implemented by UNOPS.