Project Information

Project Overview

The project is designed to connect the valuable cultural, agricultural, and natural heritage of katuns with a modern outdoor tourism offer. It focuses on the valorization of the traditional mountain way of life and the integration of katun farmers into the tourism value chain through the development of the “Katun Route” thematic trail.

Main Objectives:

• Increasing the scope, quality, and visibility of tourism based on natural and cultural heritage.
• Integrating seasonal mountain settlements (katuns) into the unique tourism offer of Montenegro and Kosovo.
• Economic empowerment of katun households through the provision of hospitality services.

Key Results

1. Preparation of Katuns for Tourism
A detailed territorial analysis was conducted, gathering baseline data on tourist visits and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of local households. This data allowed for targeted preparation of farmers to effectively host visitors.

2. Infrastructure and Product Development
Significant improvements were made to the infrastructure within the katuns to support tourism:

• Establishment of 15 rest areas for food service and 8 designated camping sites.
• Installation of at least 90 solar systems to provide essential energy supply.
• Placement of professional signage for thematic trails and specific katun markers.
• Comprehensive training sessions on hospitality, marketing, and food safety standards.

3. Promotion of Traditional Values
The cultural, natural, and agricultural values of transhumance were promoted to a wider audience, creating a recognizable tourism brand rooted in local heritage.

Partnership

The project was implemented by the Initiative for Agricultural Development of Kosovo (IADK) as the Lead Partner, in collaboration with the Municipality of Istok and the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije from Montenegro.