Connecting Pearls

Programme name

CBCP RS-MK 2016 – 2020

Call for proposals

First call for proposals, EuropeAid/165171/ID/Multi

Contract number and date of signing

48-00-00046/2019-28-3 signed on 25.12.2020

Name of the project

Connecting Pearls

Thematic priority of the Programme

Thematic priority 2: Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage  

Specific objective of the Programme

SO 2.1: Mobilizing cultural and natural recourses for joint development of sustainable tourism products and destinations  

Project budget

Total value of the project in €

236.444,50

EU contribution in € including percentage

173.810,35

Grant beneficiaries

Lead applicant

City of Leskovac, Republic of Serbia

Co-applicants

1. Municipality of Kriva Palanka, North Macedonia

2. Centre for the development of Jablanica and Pčinja districts, Leskovac, Republic of Serbia

Project territory

Republic of Serbia

Jablanica District, City of Leskovac

Republic of North Macedonia

Municipality of Kriva Palanka

Project target groups

• Public tourism actors: 2 City/Municipal administrations; 5 Public bodies in charge of tourism and culture (tourist organization, cultural centers, museums and theatres); 15 Cross border (CB) local self-governments units (members of CB network of local self-governments and development organizations from Jablanica and Pcinja District of Serbia and North East region and Skopje region of North Macedonia (network is established 2018). 

• Private tourism actors: 20 tour operators/touristic agencies; 5 SMEs tourism related transport, accommodation, food, leisure promotion; local food and craft producers. 

• Other tourism stakeholders: 2 CSOs (active in tourism , nature, environment , culture) 

• Visitors/tourists (all age groups, local people and visitors of the region): 1000 

Project duration

1.04.2021 – 30.09.2022, 18 months

Project intervention logic

Outcome (Specific Objective): To facilitate partnership and collaboration of key public and private tourism actors in using smart and integrative approach through creation common integrated cultural and leisure touristic offer joint development and promotion of new green and outdoor tourism offer of specific natural sites the Vucjanka canyon and Stanecki waterfalls on Kozya river

Impact (Overall Objective): To stimulate opportunities for improving quality and visibility of regional  cross border tourist offers through capitalization and and better utilization of natural, cultural and historical heritage in City of Leskovac, Jablanica district, Serbia and municipality of Kriva Palanka, North East Region, North Macedonia (hereafter: targeted area)

Main activities

Activity 1.2.1: Mapping and analyzing common tourist potential

Activity 1.2.2: Development of joint knowledge base

Activity 2.1.1: SWG Initial workshop

Activity 2.1.2: SWG Integrative planning workshop

Activity 2.1.3: SWG Smart planning workshop

Activity 2.1.4: SWG Sustainability workshop

Activity 3.1.1: Small scale works in tourism infrastructure at site Vucjanka Canyon

Activity 3.1.2: Small Scale works in tourism infrastructure at site the Stanecki waterfalls on Kozya river

Activity 3.1.3: Organization of Green Weekend at site Vucjanka canyon

Activity 3.1.4: Organization of Green Weekend at site Stanecki waterfalls on Kozya river

Activity 3.2.1: Development of common tourist web platform

Activity 3.2.2: Development of interactive interpretation system via QR codes and equipping tourist attractions with QR codes

Activity 3.2.3: Development of common multilingual touristic guidebook

Activity 3.2.4: Purchase of visibility material

Activity 3.3.1: Collaborative workshop for tour operators/touristic agencies

Activity 3.3.2: Exchange and dissemination workshop  

Project results

The project mobilized cultural and natural resources for the joint development of sustainable tourist products and destinations by enhancing the tourist offer of natural “gems” in the region – the Vuĉjanka Canyon and the Stanečki Waterfalls on the Kozja River. Infrastructure works included:

• A 120-meter trail was constructed.


• Urban recreational amenities were installed: a children’s playground, benches, trash bins, solar path lighting, and two gazebos.


• A 5.2 km circular walking trail was developed, including cleaning, terrain shaping, marking, and installation of informational boards in Vuĉjanka Canyon, as well as clearing 6,450 m² of land from old trees, branches, and large stones along the route.


• A 4,300-meter trail was marked and arranged, including a waterfall viewpoint, a wooden bridge, six benches, four double benches with table platforms, five wooden billboards, ten trash bins, and 20 directional signs.