The Association for the Promotion of Rural Tourism in BiH, Alterural, completed the project "Supporting Rural Accommodation and Solidarity Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina" funded by the Abbé Pierre Foundation from France.

This three-year program was launched in 2014 and completed in January 2017. Its main goal was to increase the quality of life in rural areas in BiH, focusing on small farms, providing them opportunities for additional income through the tourism sector.

The Foundation supports this segment of the rural economy in our country since 2007 in order to improve the living conditions in the villages, and to stimulate diversification of income in family farms.
Alterural expresses the gratitude of the Abbe Pierre Foundation primarily for the trust, but also for the means that enabled support. A total of 11 grants were approved by the commission in 2014, 18 of them in 2015 and 20 in 2016.

Grants are distributed in materials and equipment, depending on the needs of the family. Types of donations are, for example, solar panels, restaurant terrace upgrades, road signs, cover materials for renovation and accommodation, construction of mini playgrounds for the youngest, extension of production with equipment for plumbing, equipment for eggs production, planting material, tools for milking cows etc.
The aim is to increase the quality of provided gastronomic or accommodation services for "alternative tourists" in BiH. The grant amount was in the material, worth 500 to 4000 KM.

Project beneficiaries are:
- households dealing with rural tourism, agricultural producers who need help to improve living conditions
- local active civil society organizations are also supported for rural community projects.

The main criteria for granting non-pecuniary funds are:

- Experience in tourism nowadays
- Socio-economic vulnerability of the applicant
- They have links to agricultural activities
- The relevance of their pages
- Sustainability of their project
- Authenticity and valorisation of local heritage



Močioci, Sarajevo - Solar panels



Crepoljsko, Sarajevo - road sign.



Village Umoljani, Trnovo - Metal roof.



Žiličina, Rogatica - Roof material.

Also, these actions enabled:

- Identification and promotion of more than 150 families from 2014 on social networks, web pages and newsletters.
- technical trainings for more than 135 people.
- Organization and participation in fairs in BiH and wider area.
- 112 small family businesses were involved in rural tourism as well as representatives of tourism organizations who participated in 10 study visits to exchange experiences in neighboring countries.
- map concept for different territories such as Sarajevo and periphery.

One of the major goals of the project was to design a unique place and distinctiveness for small businesses involved in this sector that were not visible until now. The association gathers and connects, and enables exchanges. These opportunities for exchange have created a network of interests in this sphere.




Donje Biosko, Sarajevo - technical training about medicinal plants.



Identification of resources in Olovo Municipality.



Since 2017, the Abbe Pierre Foundation has started a new program with Alterural to support social projects and renovate old houses of inadequate living conditions (rural areas only) for socially disadvantaged families. This program was developed in partnership with municipalities in Fojnica, Kreševo, Kiseljak, Vareš, Sarajevo Old Town and Municipality Centar.