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Toni Zorić

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11. Mostar – Vukovar Friendship Cycling Caravan

by Toni Zorić

Association for the promotion of cycling “Hercegovina Bicikl” and Cycling Club Mostar in cooperation with the Sports Association of the City of Mostar, and several cycling clubs from BiH and Croatia from 04.28. until 02.05. this year they are organizing the 11th International Cycling Caravan of Friendship Mostar – Vukovar 2023.

This year, for the eleventh time in a row, cyclists will once again connect the cities of Mostar and Vukovar, and there are several reasons for the organization of this unusual event. The caravan also wants to pay tribute to all the victims in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina who laid down their lives for the defense of their centuries-old hearths, and especially to the victims of Vukovar, where during the three-month siege around 3,500 people died, of which more than a thousand civilians, and to mark the anniversary of the murder 12 Croatian policemen in the village of Borovo (today’s Borovo) near Vukovar.

Also, one of the reasons is the continuation of friendly relations between BiH and Croatia and the cities of Mostar and Vukovar, which are friendly cities. With a bicycle caravan, we want to connect these two war-suffered and tormented cities, whose fate has possibly changed as a result of war events. With the caravan, we want to weave threads of friendship between two countries and two cities, and permanently engrave in our memories a warning to never forget and pass it on to generations to come. In this thread, we want to connect other places in BiH and Croatia that have felt the sufferings of the war, and through which the caravan will pass.

The bicycle caravan of friendship will last five days, and will consist of four stages with a total length of more than 500 kilometers. The caravan will move in the direction of Mostar – Kiseljak – Žepče – Orašje – Županja – Vukovar. It will be driven on main and county roads. The cycling caravan will be secured by a police escort, and will be accompanied by a van that will transport food, drinks and other necessities for the participants of the cycling event.

Participation and application

Members of the organizers’ clubs and all other athletes have priority in participating in the caravan, but due to easier and better organization of activities, the number of participants is limited. The total number of participants in the bicycle ride is 40 participants, who must provide themselves with an adequate bicycle. Each participant signs a written application, i.e. a declaration of participation in the caravan, and for those under the age of 18, a guardian signs it. Participants under the age of 16 can only participate accompanied by their guardian/chaperone.
In addition to the cyclist participants, there will be around a few companions, two of which will be official vehicles that would accompany them along the entire route while the activity lasts.

All participants should register by Friday at the latest; 21.04.2023. years. in order to have a final number of participants in time for further organization.

HERE you can fill out the APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION.

PLEASE CONSIDER:

Registration fee (includes return bus ticket) for participation is 100.00 KM, or 52.00 euros, or 50.00 KM, or 26.00 euros for all participants from Vukovar and its surroundings. The registration fee can be paid to the giro account of BK Mostar.

RECOMMENDATION: It is desirable that each participant of the cycling event takes out or makes travel insurance for himself at one of the insurance companies. The price of this travel insurance with our partner EUROHERC OSIGURANJE

Registration fees can be paid at:

Client Cycling Club Mostar

Dr. Milana Šufflaya 58, Mostar
UniCredit Bank
– Account: 3381302231920925

Contact tel: +387 63 400 260

Your application forms become valid and we take them into account only upon payment of the registration fee.

Due to the organization, we ask all those who plan to join one of the sections of the marathon to notify the organizer.

IT IS MANDATORY FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS TO WEAR A HELMET, TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES DURING THE MOVEMENT, AND TO BEHAVIOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACTIVITY ITSELF AND TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE ORGANIZERS.

Biciklistička karavana Mostar – Vukovar

During the bike ride, we will be accompanied by a van in which we will keep travel bags and personal belongings, as well as the personal vehicle of the sponsor GumaM, and we will have a police escort the entire way.

1. day – Friday, April 28, 2023 (119 km)

08:00 – Gathering in front of the Croatian Home of Herceg Stjepan Kosača, taking photos and giving statements to the media.
08:45 – Participants of the cycling caravan will light candles in front of the memorial to Croatian veterans near the Croatian Home of Herceg Stjepan Kosača.
09:00 – Departure of the bicycle caravan
17:00 – Turning towards Lepenica, where colleagues from Kiseljak welcome us and follow us towards Kiseljak
18:00 – Arrival in Kiseljak where we light candles at the memorial

Day 2 – Saturday, April 29, 2023 (90 km) – Memorijal Ivana Širić

09:00 – Departure from Kiseljak to Žepč (via Busovača and Zenica)
17:00 – Arrival in Žepče, where we are welcomed by representatives of the local government and fellow cyclists from Žepče.
18:00 – Laying flowers and lighting candles at the place where the little girl Ivana Širić was killed

Day 3 – Sunday, April 30, 2023 (117 km) – Memorijal Mladen Ćatić

09:00 – Departure for Orašje
17:00 – Arrival in Orašje where we are welcomed by representatives of the local government.
17:30 – Lighting of candles at the central memorial in the city park
18:00 – Departure to Županja
18:30 – Arrival in Županje, where we are welcomed by representatives of the local government and fellow cyclists from Županja

Day 4 – Monday, May 1, 2023 (60 km)

09:00 – Departure for Vukovar
12:00 – Arrival in Vukovar where we are greeted by the media and representatives of the local government.
12:30 – Departure to Ovčara
13:00 – Arrival at Ovčara, where the participants of the caravan will light candles on the memorial made to remember the suffering of 200 wounded and medical workers of the Vukovar hospital, who were executed at that place on November 20, 1991 by the Serbian occupying authorities. A guide is provided at Ovčara, who will explain the events at that place in more detail.

Day 5 – Tuesday, May 2, 2023

09:00 – departure to Borovo selo, where the anniversary of the martyrdom of 12 Croatian policemen will be marked.
09:15 – The participants of the bicycle caravan will lay flowers and light candles on the memorial, and then attend a memorial mass for the fallen police officers.
10:00 a.m. – Joining the procession that will move on foot to the monument to the fallen police officers, where the ceremony will take place
13:00 – Return to Mostar by bus (Autoprevoz Mostar)

Important note: When returning, we will put your bikes in the van that will accompany us, and you must sign a statement in which you agree that the van driver can take your bike across the border from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina with your consent. The organizer will draw up a joint declaration with your first and last name, registration number, bicycle model and bicycle frame number. This is necessary for customs control, because the van driver will have a van full of bicycles on the way back. The participants of the cycling race return by bus.

WHAT SHOULD THE PARTICIPANT BRING TO THE BIKE RIDE?

  • Personal equipment and belongings
  • Additional clothing for riding (cycling pants and T-shirts)
  • Identity card or passport for crossing the border,
  • Helmet (MANDATORY)
  • Sleeping bag (individual/optional)
  • A small backpack or bag for equipment, clothing and personal belongings
  • Sports clothes (sweatshirt and tan), for walking and socializing upon arrival at the place where we will spend the night.
  • Bicycle spare parts for small repairs (spare inner tire 2 pcs., patching set, pump, mini tool, water bottle, reflective vest, front and rear light…)
  • Each participant rides and is responsible for his own bicycle
  • WE RECOMMEND: It is desirable that each participant of the cycling event takes out or takes out travel insurance for himself in one of the insurance companies. We recommend EUROHERC INSURANCE.

WHAT IS INSURED BY THE ORGANIZER

  • Two vehicles: Van and accompanying jeep
  • Tools and a mechanic for possible breakdowns on the caravan participant’s bicycle
  • First aid kit and medical staff in case of unforeseen/unwanted situations
  • Water, croissants and fruit that will be transported in the van for refreshments during breaks at rest stops
  • Accommodation: Kiseljak, Žepče, Županja and Vukovar
  • Bus (Extraordinary ride) for the return of participants of the cycling event to Mostar.

For all other information, you can contact us at:

Toni Zorić
president Association HerzegovinaBike
e-mail: toni@herzegovinabike.ba
mob: 063/400-260

Biljana Krtalić
Secretary BK Mostar
e-mail: biljanakrtalic@hotmail.com
mob: 063/316-729

IMPORTANT: All participants of the cycling event register and ride at their own risk. The organizers of the bike ride are not obligated in any way to the participants of the bike ride, except to be guides on the field. By signing up for the ride, you accept the mentioned conditions and undertake to follow the instructions of the organizer. Minors can register and ride only with the written permission of their guardian stating that the ride organizers are not responsible for their safety.

 

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The final conference of the Ćiro II project was held in Ravno

by Toni Zorić

Last weekend, the final conference of the Cross-border Thematic Tourism Destination: Old Narrow Gauge Railway Ćiro II project was held in Ravno. At the final conference, the results achieved during the Ćiro II project in all three countries were presented, a tour of the rest areas on the Ćiro trail arranged within the framework of the project in the area of Ravno municipality was organized. Along with the entire program, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Vjetrenica cave and, of course, socialize with lunch at the Stanica hotel, which has been certified by BFS through this project.
The end of the project is December 31, 2022. and of course, the conclusion of the conference was that we will continue our partnership in future projects and programs.
From the pictures you can see the interest of the participants who came in large numbers despite the bad weather.

More information at the link: https://ravno.gov.ba/odrzana-zavrsna-konferencija-projekta-ciro-ii/

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Blidinje BIKE Festival once again put Blidinje on the global cycle tourism map

by Toni Zorić

Three days of events, filled all week and over 600 participants and guests from the countries of the region, are just some of the numbers from the Blidinje BIKE Festival, that is, the festival of mountain biking and cycle tourism. The festival ended on Sunday with the spectacular victories of some of the best professional cyclists and the announcement of the winners, but Friday and Saturday also met the expectations of all present.

Blidinje is a well-known region in the large community of mountain bikers, especially after the Blidinje BIKE Festival event, which has been promoting and sending positive images of this Nature Park all over the world for 4 years in a row. The same thing is happening this year as global media once again promote and report from the festival; but of course the media are not alone, participants and visitors share news with millions of their followers on social networks.

The festival ended on Sunday with the central event and the main race XCM Herzegovina, and Vedad Karić (big marathon), Karla Kustura (small marathon) and Ivan Soldo (small marathon) were the best in the race. The local drivers showed their experience on the tracks of Blidinje and their good knowledge of this area since they are participating in this event for the fourth year in a row.

The Blidinje BIKE Festival event started already on Friday; 22.7. with the presentation of the project to all participants of the event, i.e. everything that the organizers have prepared for the weekend ahead. Traditionally, Saturday, as a day for recreationists, whole families and the youngest ages, brought very exciting events, such as the “Ajduka Trail” bike ride, which promoted the beautiful areas of the Blidinje Nature Park to all recreationists, but also a children’s race that brought a lot of excitement, plenty of happiness and laughter . For the youngest competitors, we have prepared a race on a 1 km circular track divided by age in a wonderful environment near the Staza restaurant in the center of the festival, where the youngest had the opportunity to enjoy the additional facilities offered by the BBF.

Fierce, daring, brave, daring, fearless, lion-hearted kids, with the proverbial loud and numerous support of the audience, won their first medals and dreamed of new sports successes here at the location of the Blidinje Nature Park.

Sunday is the day that brings beautiful photos from professional cycling and sends them all over the world with the aim of promoting Blidinje, but also Bosnia and Herzegovina as an excellent destination for all athletes who enjoy competing in some of the top events that are organized further north in the Alps, since everyone’s comments participants were that Blidinje is a copy of this beautiful mountain system that stretches between Central and Southern Europe.

For the weekly event XCM Herzegovina, the organizers have prepared two tracks for all participants, namely the Big Marathon track with a length of 60 km and a short marathon track with a length of 30 km. That the trails were very exciting, with beautiful views of the natural beauty of Blidinje, but also exhausting, was confirmed by the comments of all the participants upon entering the finish area.

The XCM Herzegovina race was attended by more than a hundred professional cyclists who tested their strength on the tracks of Blidinje. Vedad Karić (BK Rotacija Spin) proved to be the best cyclist, defending his last year’s title as the winner, who completed the course of the big marathon in 2:22:47. Dražen Akrap (BK Tempo) from Vitez took second place on the podium, while Davor Krezić (BK Kairos) from Split finished in third place.

In the small marathon, Ivan Soldo (BK Široki) from Široki Brijeg shone, to whom training on his home ground, as well as a good knowledge of the track, brought him the highest place on the podium. Ivan finished the short marathon course in 1:14:17. The second place was taken by Filip Džido (BK Tempo), while the third went to Dominiko Šimić (BK Čapljina).

Among the ladies, young Karla Kustura (BK X Factory) from Travnik proved to be the best, winning the mini-marathon course with a time of 1:36:20. She is followed by Martina Čondra (BK Rotacija SPIN) from Vitez in second place and Suzana Kontić (BK Petar Svačić) from Drniš in third place.

The fourth edition of the Blidinje BIKE Festival officially ended with the ceremony of announcing the winners and the awarding of prizes, which, according to the organizers and all those present, once again met all expectations. Unfortunately, during the event, large fires raged in Blidinje, which brought unpleasant scenes to all present, and we would like to say hello and thank all the good and brave people who are on the ground helping to put out the fire, from the fire services, GSS, mountaineers societies, all the way to volunteers who applied for help. You can follow the current situation in Blidinje on the social networks of the Visit Blidinje association, which is also a partner of the Blidinje BIKE Festival event. It is important to say that a part of the stewards of the Blidinje BIKE Festival, after the end of the event, signed up to volunteer and help prevent fires.

On this occasion, the organizers would like to once again thank all sponsors and friends of the event who help promote Blidinje, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Sponsors of the event: Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, Federal Ministry of Education and Science, Government of West Herzegovina County, Government of Herzegovina-Neretva County, Municipality of Posušje, Tourist Board HNŽ/K, Sports Federation of the City of Mostar and Visit Blidinje.

Golden sponsor: HT ERONET

Silver sponsor: M.T. Abraham Group

Bronze Sponsor:  Spartan Sport – GIANT

Sponsors: Capriolo Mostar, GumaM, Autoservis Čip, LEDA Voda, Herzegovina Vino, “Hajdučke Vrleti” restaurant, “Staza” restaurant, Lasta Čapljina, Violeta Grude, Nameks supermarkets.

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EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Press conference – Presenntation of the “Ćiro cycling route management plan”

by Toni Zorić

PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESENTATION OF THE “ĆIRO CYCLING ROUTE MANAGEMENT PLAN”

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 11:30 a.m., City Hall of the City of Mostar

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., City Administration of the City of Trebinje

REDAH announces the presentation of the results of the project “Development of the ĆIRO Cycling Route Management Plan”, which is being carried out within the framework of the EU4Business project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and which is co-financed by the European Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

After the presentation of the results, a ceremonial signing of the Agreement on cooperation on the maintenance, management and promotion of the ĆIRO cycling route will be organized in both cities. The agreement will be signed by the mayors of Herzegovinian municipalities and cities that gravitate along the ĆIRO route.

The development of a document that will provide guidelines and mechanisms for the management of the Ćiro cycling route in a systematic, coordinated and planned manner, and will ensure its functionality and sustainability and be one of the generators of tourism development in the entire area.

The document clearly defines the strategic directions of development, necessary resources, responsibilities in the implementation of various measures/activities/programs. This will ensure a gradual, mutually coordinated, and thus long-term sustainable development of Ćiro in the entire project area, which will lead to increased competitiveness and more significant tourist activities in all of Herzegovina.

The leading implementer of the project is the Association for Economic Development REDAH, which during June and July 2022, in cooperation with the Herzegovina Bike Association, by holding four interactive workshops with key actors from the public, private and non-governmental sectors from the area of Herzegovina, successfully developed Management plan.

Agenda in both cities:

  • Welcome speeches

(Representatives of the host cities, GiZ, the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the RS)

  • Presentation of the ĆIRO cycling route management plan
  • Statements for the media

EU4Business, with the aim of strengthening the BiH economy, encourages the development of entrepreneurship, export-oriented sectors, tourism and agriculture, as well as rural development. EU4Business is financed by the European Union with 15 million euros and the Federal Republic of Germany with 1.1 million euros. EU4Business is jointly implemented by GIZ, ILO and UNDP. For more information about the EU4Business project, visit: www.eu4business.ba .

For more information about the project, please contact:

Ivica Sivrić, Director of the Association for Economic Development REDAH

Contact phone: 063 295 766

E-mail: ivica@redah.ba

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We meet “Ljubuški Outdoor Festival”

by Toni Zorić

Another 14 days separate us from the largest outdoor festival in Herzegovina – Ljubuški Outdoor Festival, and on that occasion we spoke with Josip Ramljak, secretary of BK Ljubuški.

The Ljubuški Outdoor Festival as a whole is a set of sports and recreational activities that will connect and revitalize the scattered cultural, historical and natural heritage along the competition routes.

Paragliding competition, racing, cycling and trail trails are connected by the river Trebižat, which in addition to its hydrological potential also inherits two natural pearls: the Kravica and Koćuša waterfalls. The route also connects national cultural monuments, the Roman military camp in Gračine and the fortress of Herceg Stjepan Kosača, which represent a special treasure of this festival. The festival will promote sports and a healthy lifestyle in a natural environment through a series of lectures. Also, all associations engaged in outdoor sports and recreational activities will have the opportunity to present their activities during the festival at the Kravica waterfall. This innovative and unique event in BiH will certainly be a significant incentive for the development and promotion of active destination tourism in the Ljubuski region, but also in other areas in the region for the development of similar activities.

Can you tell us how the idea of ​​organizing an event of this type came about?

LJOF or full name Ljubuški outdoor festival was created as an idea of ​​a group of enthusiasts and lovers of outdoor activities, namely good cooperation and socializing of runners, cyclists, paragliders and the city administration of Ljubuški resulted in something that should become a recognizable brand in the region and further enrich tourist offer of the town of Ljubuški.

What will LJOF offer visitors in its premiere edition?

In its premiere edition, LJOF will offer several racing races, two bicycle races, a competition in precision landing (paragliding), hiking to the nearby peak Vrlosinj, a landscape photography workshop, a speleo workshop and a sport climbing school.

Registration fee for participation in the competitive part of the program is 20.00 KM, while the workshops are free for all participants. By paying the registration fee until 15.05.2021. all competitors will be provided with a starter pack containing an official LJOF T-shirt, a finisher’s medal and a sponsor’s gift package.

The first LJOF will be held from May 28 to 30, 2021, and the three days of the festival represent the unity of sports, healthy living, entertainment, positive spirit and awareness of nature conservation. This eco-project is intended for all lovers of good time, competitions and outdoor activities.

Can you tell us a bit more about the festival program itself?

The festival begins on Friday, May 28, 2021 at 17:00 with the official opening. The opening will be followed by expert lectures on active tourism. Also on the same day, next to the Kravica waterfall, “stands” of various associations engaged in sports and recreational activities in nature will be set up.

Saturday 05/29/2021 official competitions start, and on that day runners and paragliders are on the program. Running fans will try a couple of distances, and have a choice of Half Marathon “Two Waterfalls”, a 10-kilometer race called “SKUNASTICUS” which starts from the military camp Gračine, a children’s race called “KIDS RUN” 1 kilometer long where all these races they have a common finish, and these are the Kravica waterfalls. As we mentioned earlier, an attractive competition in precision landing “KOSAČA” organized by Paragliding Club Ljubuški will be held on the same day, and all pilots will take off from the airfield near the tower of Herceg Stjepan, while the goal will be to land as close as possible to the center in Ljubuško polje. .

Sunday 30.05.2021. is reserved for cycling enthusiasts, and that is the main reason for our conversation today. We have two trails ready, one for those a little more prepared under the name XCM Stipe, 41 kilometers long, and XCM Mara, 21 kilometers long, for those who want to enjoy the beautiful landscape without getting very tired.

Tell us a little more about Marie and Stipe. Why Stipe and Mara? 🙂

And it’s a special story, we were sitting at a club meeting where we were thinking about how to separate the trails for those more prepared and those who enjoy a light ride – recreational riders. Following a few names and event names of other clubs in the region, we noticed that they all mostly have some unique names.

Stipe and Mara are names associated with this area, ancient, sounding names and there is no hamlet or place that does not have one Mara or one Stipe. As a real man, Stipe was a little more determined and he is a stronger marathon, so his race is even harder. While Mara on the other hand is polite, gentler, nice and she drives a lighter race and that is essentially that kind of story we revolved around. That is how Stioe and Mara were born.

As I mentioned above, the XCM Stipe is a race designed for the slightly more prepared, but again not too demanding so everyone should be able to drive it within the 3:00 hour time limit.

The race is 41 kilometers long with a total altitude difference of 710 meters. The start is at the Koćuša waterfalls, and along the entire route we pass by the natural and cultural sights of Ljubuški with the goal at the beautiful Kravica waterfalls.

XCM Stipe is a race that scores points for the BiH Premier League, so we can already see from the reports that the cream of the MTB scene in BiH is coming to Ljubuški. Karić, but as I have already said, many interesting names are coming and we can already see that the XCM Stipe will be a very interesting race.

The XCM Mara is reserved for children and amateurs who want to drive a shorter and much less strenuous race.

This race is also scored for the Premier League in BiH, but in the categories of younger cadets and cadets, as well as amateurs aged 12-16. The others who take part in the race drive recreationally, but their time will be measured and the official result will be published on the Ljof website.

As we learned from the previous question, you already have a lot of applicants. Can you tell us what number it is and how many participants in total you expect in Ljubuški during the festival?

So far, we have registered a total of 540 competitors in all disciplines. 120 competitors have registered for the bicycle races and we expect that we have mentioned a good and attractive race before and we hope that everyone will enjoy from the first to the last kilometer of the track.

Do you have a message to end the conversation?

Here, in front of the Ljubuški Cycling Club, we invite everyone who is still thinking about visiting Ljubuški and its surroundings to do so on the last weekend in May, more precisely from May 28 to 30, 2021, visits to Kravica Waterfalls and Ljubuški Outdoor Festival. Of course, it is not obligatory, but it is great if they decide to participate in one of the workshops or try one of the competitive disciplines. We can certainly guarantee good fun and enjoyment of the natural and cultural beauties of Ljubuški and Herzegovina.

Public company Parkovi Ljubuški d.o.o. and associations: Cycling Club Ljubuški, Paragliding Club Ljubuški, Croatian Athletic Club Ljubuški, GSS station Ljubuški and Photo Club Focus are the organizers and holders of the event Ljubuški Outdoor Festival with the support of the City of Ljubuški and the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism BiH.

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Herzegovina on the largest europian platform for active tourism

by Toni Zorić

Once we had a dream – Herzegovina a paradise for cycling and active tourism!
Herzegovina as an ideal cycling tourist destination, today is a dream that is never closer to us thanks to a group of enthusiasts who believed in their dream and worked hard to achieve their goals. And that behind hard work and effort come merits is confirmed by today’s lines of this article, so let’s start.

Active tourism, cycling and long-distance cycling are a growing tourism trend that has changed the way many travelers experience a new destination. The challenge of cycling through rural parts of the country, villages, mountains, and even river valleys and cities, accompanied by the slower pace that comes with this mode of transport, has made cycling one of the fastest growing tourist trends, a new experience for many travelers looking for active holidays. a deeper and more authentic experience with the destination in which they reside.

Members of the “HerzegovinaBike” association were aware of this, while in recent years they have been persistently working on their goals and promoting Herzegovina as an ideal cycling destination, and their voice has reached as far as Germany. From this year, the tourist offer of Herzegovina will be found on Outdoor Active, the largest europian platform for active tourism, and it is important to say that this platform has more than 10 million users of active tourism, users who are potential visitors tomorrow and our country.

“It’s great news for tourism in our country. News that in these dark days for tourism and all tourism workers somehow gives us hope for a better tomorrow and gives that light at the end of the tunnel we’ve been waiting for. It’s true that Outdoor Active is expanding its In fact, this is a topic we have been discussing since last year, when we went to Belgrade for their presentation of the project of the cycling route “Belgrade Dubrovnik”, which in one part relies on our Ćira trail. They are aware of how much work we have done here in Herzegovina regarding the development of cycling tourism, from Ćira’s railway with which the whole story starts, to a very large network of bicycle paths, BikeFriendly Standard that we are developing with Redakh, education cycling guides, all the way to the excellent promotional events we organize in Herzegovina “, said Toni Zorić, president of the HerzegovinaBike association.

“To be honest, at the beginning of our talks, we were not even aware of how strong the company we were talking to was, until we got moderation powers on their platform to fill it with tourist content and offers from Herzegovina. And that is already a real job today, our members of the association are already working on this platform and enter the tourist offer, trails, accommodation facilities, destinations that we have on our website HerzegovinaBike. We are convinced that tomorrow, when this situation with the crown passes and when tourism returns to normal, we will have a very large number of tourists through the OutdoorActive platform “, added Zorić.

It is important to say that not only cycling tourism is offered at Outdoor Active, there is also a lot of active form of tourism, such as hiking, winter sports, skiing, water sports, all the way to accommodation, gastronomic offers, destinations and more.

“Several other associations through projects cooperate with OutdoorActive and do a great job bringing the entire tourist offer of Bosnia and Herzegovina to this German platform. Through the projects through which we cooperate we got the opportunity to do a good job and develop excellent cooperation in the years ahead. very positive and great things. We are aware, we have a big job ahead of us, but we also know how much this business will be for the common good in the days when tourism flourishes again and that is what gives us the impetus to work and move forward, “he said. is Zoric.

Herzegovina – California … often our fellow citizens can jokingly say and draw a parallel thinking about the climate we have in Herzegovina. And often while we were saying this we were not even aware of how right we are, the ideal geographical position, close to the sea, close to the mountains and of course the nature that surrounds us, the destinations we own, it is increasingly certain that tourism is the next thing in our country. we need to work hard in that direction.

Cyclo tourism is a hobby that combines tourism and cycling, the activity consists of discovering new places, landscapes and places or even often to visit countries and countries that use bicycles as a means of transport. How certain it is that Herzegovina will become the next cycling tourist destination, write to us in the comments

.

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ĆIRO CYCLING EVENT FROM MOSTAR TO ČAPLJINA

by Toni Zorić

We believe that you are familiar with the fact that this is not about the real Ćiri who roared on the mentioned section, but about cyclists (Ćira’s friends) who are organizing another bicycle caravan, an event that serves to promote Ćira’s bike path and tourist capacities of southern Herzegovina.

The Association for the Promotion of Cycling “HerzegovinaBike” and the Cycling Club Mostar are once again organizing a promotional cycling race on the section from Mostar to Čapljina. Namely, although at the beginning of last year this promotional bicycle race was not held due to the cancellation of all events due to the unfavorable epidemiological situation, the organizers hope that this year on Sunday they could have a nice gathering and event promoting Herzegovina, active tourism and tourist capacities of Herzegovina.

“Spring is here with us, so the time has come for the cycling race on the Ćira railway to start from Mostar and end in Čapljina. We hope that this year we will be able to hold this event, of course with physical distance and adherence to all epidemiological measures and recommendations.” say the organizers.

It should be noted that in recent years this cycling race has recorded a record number of 200 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Croatia who cycled on a 40 km long section visited Blagaj, Buna, Počitelj and Čapljina, as well as all their historical and cultural sights.

“The plan is the same as in previous years, we want to present to our guests in the best possible light all the cultural and historical sights that Ćira’s route has to offer on the mentioned section. We are sure that we will not have guests from the region, but we believe that our friends from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina will visit Herzegovina on this don and enjoy the beautiful weather, fresh air and pleasant company. Of course, this year we have our cycling guides who will be the leaders of this bike ride and present to our guests all the destinations we visit on our trip, and thus further educate ourselves to meet all the conditions to get a cycling guide license from the Cycling Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ” commented Toni Zorić, president of this association.

“This year we will drive the inevitable Old Bridge in Mostar, and visit Blagaj and the source of the river Buna, we will pass by the Monastery in Žitomislići, Hutova blata, we will visit the old town of Počitelj and once again end our journey in Čapljina. which is definitely worth visiting, and the trail we ride is one of the most beautiful trails in Herzegovina, so this is an event that is definitely worth participating in, “said the organizers.

Gathering and departure is on Sunday, April 18, 2021. starting at 10:00 am in front of the home of Herceg Stjepan Kočač on the square of Croatian greats (Rondo).

More about the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/470585974063293

The organizers hereby send a message to all our readers to respond to this event and be part of another bicycle race for the promotion of Jira and southern Herzegovina. We believe that the organizers bring another excellent and unforgettable gathering, just like at all events in previous years, and again you are the best witnesses to their excellent organizations.

In this way, the organizers want to thank all the media that support the work of this association and together with them in their own special way to promote Ciro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina received the label #SafeTravel

by Toni Zorić

The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism informs the public that our country has been awarded the #SafeTravel destination, the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), after adopting and adopting their COVID-19 guide and guidelines, which detail the steps and actions taken during pandemics in the tourism industry.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been awarded the hashtag #SafeTravel

The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism informs the public that our country has been awarded the #SafeTravel destination, the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), after adopting and adopting their COVID-19 guide and guidelines, which detail the steps and actions taken during pandemics in the tourism industry.

We are facing a difficult situation in the country in terms of the increase in the number of people suffering from COVID and a difficult economic situation for all economic entities in tourism, however, other countries are in a similar situation. Despite the pandemic, we in the tourism industry cannot wait and hope that things will improve on their own. In this sense, since this sector has a large percentage of labor, it is our duty to protect all tourism workers, their families and tourists, both domestic and international, and this is achieved, inter alia, by adopting the recommendations of the world organization, leaders in tourism. .

By receiving the international label #SafeTravel destination, the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country shows that it is determined to position itself on the international market, as well as to follow world trends when it comes to tourism. This is the first but crucial step in achieving the recovery of the tourism industry and restoring confidence in international travelers in the tourism sector.

The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism would like to thank USAID’s Tourism Project for its assistance to the entity governments, the Brcko District, and the BiH Council of Ministers to develop, develop, and adopt the necessary protocols and to obtain the #Safe Travel label.

The next step is to ensure that each member of the tourism industry, ie employees, is trained to work in accordance with the protocols. We take this opportunity to invite employers and employees from the tourism industry to attend courses related to the Covid Guide and the World Tourism and Travel Council protocol, developed by USAID Tourism, which are in line with both our health and safety protocols and the international label. about safe travel.

Let’s show the world not only that we have received the #SafeTravel label, but that our employees in tourism understand, and that companies operate in accordance with the received label.

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Forum announcement: “Adriatic Outdoor Adventure”

by Toni Zorić

Within the project “Cycling routes for the improvement of natural and cultural heritage of Herzegovina and Montenegro – Cycling Rural”, funded by the European Union, on Friday 12.03.2021. from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Bigeste Hotel in Ljubuški, an active tourism forum called “Adriatic Outdoor Adventure” will be organized. The aim of this forum is to acquaint the tourism sector with the initiatives that have taken root in our area and to highlight and convey success stories in the field of active tourism development in the Adriatic hinterland. The forum will bring together international experts in the field of active tourism, and those interested will follow the program through the Zoom application. The organizer is the Office of the Government of the West Herzegovina County for European Integration.

The forum will open the presentation of the project “Cycling Rural”, participants will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the most successful initiatives launched through European Union projects: “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure – T.A.R.A.” and Adriatic Canyoning. Current projects in the field of tourism will also be presented: “EU4Business”, “Tourism Development Promotion” and “Via Dinarica”.

The second part of the program concludes with a panel with international speakers who will discuss their experiences and share the success stories they have gone through on the path of developing active tourism across Europe. The panel will feature Ed Lancaster from the European Cyclist Federation (Belgium); Jack Delf of Black Mountain Montenegro; Iva Bencun from the Feral Tours agency (Croatia), the moderator of the panel will be Nedo Pinezić, a tourist advisor from Croatia.

The West Herzegovina County, through the Tourism Development Plan, is improving the infrastructure for outdoor activities, with an emphasis on bicycle paths. The organization of such a forum represents a significant contribution to the promotion of bicycle paths in Herzegovina and helps to position Herzegovina as a desirable cycling tourist destination on European cycling platforms.

The “Cycling Rural” project started on October 1, 2019, and the implementation will last for 18 months. The total value of the project is around 500,000 euros, of which the European Union has provided 400,000 euros. The project holder is the Office of the Government of the West Herzegovina County for European Integration, and the partners are the cities of Široki Brijeg and Ljubuški, the municipalities of Posušje and Grude, and the Tourist Organization of Herceg Novi from Montenegro.

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INVITATION TO THE WORKSHOP “DEVELOPMENT OF BICYCLE TOURISM IN ZZH”

by Toni Zorić

The Office of the Government of ZZH for EU integration has published an invitation to the workshop “Development of cycling tourism in ZZH” on the occasion of the implementation of the project “Cycling routes for the improvement of natural and cultural heritage of Herzegovina and Montenegro – Cycling Rural”. The aim of this workshop is to acquaint the local population with the trends in cycling tourism as well as with the requirements of the market and what every service provider should be aware of. These workshops will be specifically focused on the Bike Friendly Standard.

Workshops will be held for each local government unit as follows:

  • Široki Brijeg – January 14, 2021 at 09:00, in the Conference Hall of the Office of the Government of the West Herzegovina County for European Integration, Fra. Didaka Buntica 14, Siroki Brijeg;
  • Posušje – January 14, 2021 at 12:00 in the premises of the Municipal Hall, Fra. Grge Martica 30, Posusje;
  • Ljubuški – January 15, 2021 at 09:00 in the City Hall, Trg dr. Franje Tuđmana 1, Ljubuški;
  • Grude – January 15, 2021 at 12:00 in the premises of the Municipal Hall, Fra. Gabre Grubisica 4, Grude.

The project “Cycling routes for the improvement of natural and cultural heritage of Herzegovina and Montenegro – Cycling Rural” is implemented within the 2nd call of the Cross-border Cooperation Program Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-2020. It started on October 1, 2019, and implementation will take 18 months. The total value of the project is EUR 495,000.00, of which the European Union finances EUR 400,000.00.

The project partners are the Office of the Government of the West Herzegovina County for European Integration as the project holder, the cities of Široki Brijeg and Ljubuški, the municipalities of Posušje and Grude, and the Tourist Organization of Herceg Novi (CG).

The European Union is financing this project with the aim of strengthening and diversifying the quality of the tourist offer, and the development and promotion of cycling and tourist offer in the open, in rural areas of the cross-border regions of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project will result in the creation of a new and more attractive tourist offer under the brand “CYCLING RURAL” which will be included in the tourist offer of both countries, as well as in the overall tourist offer of the Adriatic hinterland.

In order to prepare all organizational details in a timely manner, please confirm your arrival at the e-mail address info@eui-zzh.ba or at the phone number 039 / 703-100 until 13.01.2021. with an indication of the location of the workshop in which you will participate.

Note: In the context of epidemiological protection measures, we draw the attention of participants to respecting the distance with the mandatory wearing of protective masks.

For more information, please contact:

Ana Soldo, project coordinator

T: +387 39 703 100
E: ana@eui-zzh.ba

 

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