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SRBMaster Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Sava River Basin - Final Stakeholder Forum
Zagreb, 2 December 2025 - Stakeholders from all five Sava River Basin countries gathered in Zagreb for the 2nd Stakeholder Forum of the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Sava River Basin, marking the final consultation milestone in the development of a comprehensive, long-term regional tourism strategy. The event was organised by the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC).
The Masterplan has been prepared under the Sava and Drina Rivers Corridors Integrated Development Programme - Phase I and supported by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility. The plan is based on three development pillars - nautical tourism, ecotourism, and cycle tourism - identified as key shared resources that can unify the region’s tourism offer, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and increase the Basin’s competitiveness in international markets.
Special emphasis was also placed on social inclusion, with a focus on the role of women-led SMEs and mechanisms to enhance equitable participation in tourism value chains.
During the preparation of the Plan, the project team conducted extensive analysis of tourism, environmental, social, and navigation-related challenges, proposing actions to ensure that tourism growth remains compatible with sensitive habitats, protected areas, riverine ecosystems, and the cultural character of Sava-side communities.
Dragan Zeljko, Executive Secretary of the ISRBC, emphasised the importance of the initiative: “The Sava is not just a river - it is a shared resource, a connection between nations and communities, and a remarkable foundation for sustainable tourism development. Utilizing inland navigation, the extension of cycling routes along the river, the promotion of cultural heritage, natural richness, and diversity of the Sava River corridor/basin, all form the heart of the vision we are building together.”
More information on the Master Plan is available here.
The forum was also covered by the following media:
https://hina.hr/vijest/12127095
https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026/2737023.aspx
https://www.ekovjesnik.hr/clanak/9195/predstavljen-glavni-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save
https://utmedia.hr/vijesti/u-slivu-rijeke-save-master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma
http://metro-portal.hr/master-plan-za-odrzivi-razvoj-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save/154286
https://www.fena.ba/article/1655232/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026
https://www.federalna.ba/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026-eiox5
https://bhputovanja.ba/bs/novosti/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026/18238
The Masterplan has been prepared under the Sava and Drina Rivers Corridors Integrated Development Programme - Phase I and supported by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility. The plan is based on three development pillars - nautical tourism, ecotourism, and cycle tourism - identified as key shared resources that can unify the region’s tourism offer, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and increase the Basin’s competitiveness in international markets.
Special emphasis was also placed on social inclusion, with a focus on the role of women-led SMEs and mechanisms to enhance equitable participation in tourism value chains.
During the preparation of the Plan, the project team conducted extensive analysis of tourism, environmental, social, and navigation-related challenges, proposing actions to ensure that tourism growth remains compatible with sensitive habitats, protected areas, riverine ecosystems, and the cultural character of Sava-side communities.
Dragan Zeljko, Executive Secretary of the ISRBC, emphasised the importance of the initiative: “The Sava is not just a river - it is a shared resource, a connection between nations and communities, and a remarkable foundation for sustainable tourism development. Utilizing inland navigation, the extension of cycling routes along the river, the promotion of cultural heritage, natural richness, and diversity of the Sava River corridor/basin, all form the heart of the vision we are building together.”
More information on the Master Plan is available here.
The forum was also covered by the following media:
https://hina.hr/vijest/12127095
https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026/2737023.aspx
https://www.ekovjesnik.hr/clanak/9195/predstavljen-glavni-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save
https://utmedia.hr/vijesti/u-slivu-rijeke-save-master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma
http://metro-portal.hr/master-plan-za-odrzivi-razvoj-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save/154286
https://www.fena.ba/article/1655232/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026
https://www.federalna.ba/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026-eiox5
https://bhputovanja.ba/bs/novosti/master-plan-odrzivog-razvoja-turizma-u-slivu-rijeke-save-pocetkom-2026/18238