Lake Gazivode, better known among local residents as Lake Ribarić, has often been mentioned in public discourse in the context of politics and environmental pollution. As a result, its natural beauty and tourism potential in this border region of Serbia have been unfairly overlooked.
However, the Regional Tourism Organisation of Sandžak (RTO), which covers the territories of Novi Pazar, Sjenica, and Tutin, recognized an opportunity to enhance the tourism offer of these municipalities through Lake Gazivode. Together with partners from northern Montenegro and with the support of the European Union, the organization implemented the cross-border project “RESET”.
One of the project’s main outcomes was the purchase of a 12-seat catamaran, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of the area from a new perspective.
“The catamaran is certainly the flagship component of the part of the project that we implemented. It is of high quality, passengers’ reactions have been very positive, and people are satisfied. It serves an important purpose, and I believe it will contribute to improving the lake’s tourism offer, revitalising the area, and encouraging others to get involved. A new restaurant with a rich culinary selection has already opened on the shore, the ‘Pazar Beach’ facility is operating, and several floating platforms have been built. We are also in contact with tourist guides, and there is a plan for them to direct visitors to Novi Pazar towards the lake”, said Elvir Bogućanin, Director of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Sandžak.
The catamaran cost nearly €25,000, accounting for more than half of the EU grant allocated to the tourism organisation under the RESET project.
“As part of the project, training sessions focused on cross-border cooperation and tourism development were organised. Two study tours from Novi Pazar to Nikšić brought together more than 50 representatives of tourism organisations, travel agencies, media outlets, and civil society organisations. We also produced brochures, promotional videos, and a mobile application featuring tourist attractions and activities in the region. Information boards, changing cabins, benches, and a modular bicycle parking and rest area system were also installed”, Bogućanin added.
He believes that the border regions of Serbia and Montenegro have significant tourism potential and that the “product” already exists, with the main challenge now being its effective promotion.
“The number of tourists increases year after year, and this trend should be maintained. We have all the prerequisites for tourism development: hospitality, nature, gastronomy, and rich cultural and historical heritage. Road infrastructure is also being improved, so I believe tourism will continue on an upward trajectory”, Bogućanin concluded.
The main objectives of the RESET project, which the European Union supported with more than €138,000 through the Serbia–Montenegro Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) Programme, were to enhance the value of tourism assets and strengthen the capacities of tourism stakeholders in the two regions.
The project was led by the Municipality of Nikšić. In addition to Novi Pazar and Nikšić, activities also covered the municipalities of Šavnik, Žabljak, and Pljevlja in Montenegro, as well as Prijepolje, Nova Varoš, and Sjenica in Serbia.