“… Andrić was always interested in the motif of bridges, he believed that they were an expression of the eternal human struggle to connect and unite the two sides. Andrić showed that bridges bring peace, connect the past and the future, bring us together and bring prosperity. Just like Andrić “The EU is building bridges between people through our cross-border co-operation programs. This project is an example of that. In the spirit of Andrić, continue to build bridges and connect people of all nationalities, religions and cultures,” said at the opening of eco-museum Ivo Andrić’s House in Herceg Novi, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Plamena Halachev.
Thus, with the completion of the Co.Co Tour project, a new phase in tourism in this part of the Mediterranean begins. Established model of eco-museum, created tourist package, designed smartphone application for visitors, empowered tourism workers in terms of accessibility, local communities involved in the model of eco-museum / community museum – all these are results that connect the three cities of Himara, Herceg Novi and Tricaze.
In addition to these three cities, the Mediterranean network of eco-museums consists of Corfu and Mezzolonghi.
Safeguarding and promotion of local cultural-historical and natural heritage have gained a new dimension through the Co.Co Tour. The PANORAMED Governance Platform, which supports the processes of strengthening and developing multilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean region for joint responses to common challenges and opportunities, emphasized the importance of this project. Co.Co Tour was chosen as the optimal project that can transform sustainable development model tourism in the entire Mediterranean climate. This is through: Providing significant inputs in terms of sustainable tourism when it comes to the rural hinterlands of the coastal communities of the IPA CBC ALB-ITA-MNE program and by providing thematic inputs for potential applicants of this program.
Such good results and potentials need to be supported structurally as well. At the local level, eco-museums have support and are recognized as an important potential for tourism development, especially at times when transformations in this sector are needed, and some regional authorities also support eco-museums.
The partners continue to work on obtaining support for this tourism concept from national institutions in the form of special financial support lines.
