December 2, 2025 – Stakeholders from all five Sava River Basin countries gathered today 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 hosted by the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC).
The Masterplan, prepared under the Sava and Drina Rivers Corridors Integrated Development Programme – Phase I, supported by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility, and implemented by THR Strategic Tourism Advisors and OIKON – Institute of Applied Ecology, establishes a basin-wide framework for sustainable tourism development grounded in environmental protection, cultural heritage preservation, and coordinated cross-border collaboration.
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. Utilising 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.”
Regional strategy built on three pillars
The vision and mission of the Master Plan were presented to representatives of regional ministries, public bodies, development agencies, organisations and associations in the fields of tourism, river transport, and environmental protection, as well as to local women entrepreneurs. 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.
Action Plan and governance structure presented
The Forum presented the Sava River Basin Tourism Action Plan, the cluster-level implementation frameworks, and several project fiches and feasibility studies developed as part of the Masterplan. These components identify priority interventions, responsible institutions, indicative timelines, and opportunities for coordinated investment at both basin and cluster levels.
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.
The work included numerous workshops, field missions and site visits across all Basin countries, during which stakeholders jointly identified opportunities for improvement and responsible investment. This broad participatory process ensured that the Masterplan reflects local priorities, real development needs, and the region’s shared ambitions.
Reflecting on the technical development process, Javier González, Project Leader from THR, stated: “The Masterplan is built on solid evidence, extensive fieldwork and direct input from stakeholders across the Basin. It provides practical, achievable steps that can guide coordinated, sustainable tourism development in the years ahead.”
One of the major features presented was the proposed governance mechanism intended to harmonise tourism development across borders and guide joint decision-making, investment mobilisation, product development, and marketing.
Following the integration of feedback gathered during the event, the final Masterplan will be released at the beginning of next year.
