On 21–22 October 2026, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa took part in a peer review visit in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The visit was organised as part of the activities under the project “People Powered Tourism: empowerment of local communities through co-designing experience based transformative travel to enhance visitor economy”.
The purpose of the visit was to explore the two pilot projects implemented by the host partner, the City of Sarajevo, assess the progress achieved so far, and provide recommendations for further improvement. The visit was attended by Ms Maya Milova, Executive Director of CCI Vratsa and Project Coordinator, and Ms Gergana Konova, Programmes and Projects Expert.
The first day of the peer review visit introduced the partners to the rural pilot project. Participants took part in a hike through the Čavljak area, where they became acquainted with the natural assets of the region, as well as the opportunities for developing tourism based on the principles of the visitor economy. As part of the programme, a tasting of traditional dishes was also organised to introduce the partners to the local gastronomy.
During the second day of the visit, the pilot project located in a peripheral urban area was tested. The partners learned more about the history, culture and architecture of the neighbourhood along the Miljacka River, visited Kozija Ćuprija, which formed part of the former Imperial Road, as well as the Ambassadors’ Alley.
The peer review visit provided an opportunity for the exchange of experience, advice and feedback among the project partners.
The People Powered Tourism project partnership includes 14 organisations from 10 countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe and is led by the Municipality of Szeged, Hungary. The project addresses contemporary challenges in tourism by introducing a “visitor economy” model – an economy that places visitors and local communities at the centre of development. This approach turns people into the main driver of sustainable development, highlighting the importance of human relationships, local identities and personalised experiences that bring added value to the local economy.
