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New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024

Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Visit village
Visit village
Project represents an innovative approach to combining traditional agritourism with modern needs for a physically active vacation in nature while gaining new experience and knowledge of farming traditions, localities. Focusing on the reservation of stays on farms, as a special lifestyle, the project not only offers tourists the opportunity to experience rural life, but also integrated the medical benefits of staying in nature, preserving traditions and gaining new experiences in the agriculture.
EU Member State, Western Balkans or Ukraine
Montenegro
National
Yes
Croatia- Jadranska Hrvatska, Croatia- Kontinentalna Hrvatska, Slovenia- Vzhodna Slovenija
Yes
Croatia- Istria, Croatia- Sisak-Moslavina, Slovenia- Savinjsko-Šaleška, Slovenia- Zasavska
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2023-10-17
No
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
Yes

Connecting tourists (domestic and foreign) with authentic agricultural farms. This allows tourists to experience the traditional way of life, learn about agricultural activities and enjoy local products.
The focus is on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through being in nature. Visitors have the opportunity to relax in a natural environment, which is associated with reduced stress, improved mental health and a stronger immune system. Furthermore, it is possible to present therapies developed on farms, which directly or indirectly affect health improvement (apitherapy, phytotherapy, programs to improve motor skills, special types of nutrition...).
Encouraging the preservation of traditional work methods and ways of life in the countryside. This contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and supports local communities. Gaining new experiences, such as picking fruit, learning about organic production, producing cheese, wine, food preparation, etc.
Contribution to economic development and involvement of the younger population in rural areas through tourism and promotion of sustainability. Linking tourism with agriculture allows local communities to profit and is also attractive for younger generations who will see the possibility of additional income and education on their farms through this project. In addition, it helps to preserve the natural environment and sustainable use of resources.
Target group(s)
Tourists
Tourists who have desire for deeper connection with nature, getting to know the cultures of other peoples through tradition of a certain locality and cultural heritage, lovers of gastronomy, who want to escape from everyday life.
Mountaineers
There are no hotels and apartments at the foot of the mountain peaks, so it is difficult for those mountaineers to provide accommodation and food if they do not want to stay under a tent.
Children and adults in the therapeutic process and families who take care of healthy life.
Agrotourism
Sustainable farming
Farm experiences
Cultural immersion
Environmental conservation
The project seeks to preserve and celebrate local cultural and agricultural traditions. This involves working with communities to maintain and showcase their unique heritage. "Visit Village" strives to boost the local economy by providing income opportunities for rural communities. By creating a platform for agrotourism experiences, it generates income for small-scale farmers and local artisans. The project is committed to environmental stewardship. It encourages the protection of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, and the minimization of negative environmental impacts.
This tape of recreation educate visitors about the importance of sustainable agriculture and rural life. It raises awareness about the challenges faced by rural communities and the significance of preserving their way of life. The project emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring that marginalized groups within the community can benefit from the opportunities created.
The Visit Village offers a clear insight into our impact on the environment, thereby stimulating sustainable practices. The project serves as an educational platform that raises awareness about our interaction with the environment. Visitors are provided with information and experiences that highlight the significance of responsible and sustainable practices. Visit Village showcases sustainable techniques used by local farmers and rural communities. These demonstrations provide tangible examples of how sustainable farming, water conservation, waste generation, and biodiversity preservation can be implemented effectively.
By offering a comprehensive view of our environmental impact and advocating for sustainable practices, Visit village inspires visitors to be more conscious of their ecological footprint and empowers them to implement similar practices in their daily lives. This approach ensures that the project contributes positively to environmental conservation and fosters a culture of responsibility towards the planet.
The Visit village project represents an innovative approach to combining traditional rural tourism with agrotourism and medical tourism. Focusing on booking a stay on agricultural farms and experiencing that experience as a special lifestyle, the project not only provides the opportunity for tourists to experience rural life, but also integrated the medical benefits of staying in nature, preserving traditions and gaining new experiences specific only to that locality. This satisfies the need of tourists to combine a stay in nature with a vacation, to be active recreationally, to enable themselves to gain insight into new experiences (knowledge), and to improve their mental and physical health.
Visit village has made it a priority to ensure that all individuals, regardless of physical abilities, can access and enjoy the agrotourism experiences offered. This includes the construction of wheelchair-friendly paths and accommodations, as well as the provision of resources to accommodate various needs, such as braille signage or sign language interpreters.
To make agrotourism experiences accessible to a broader audience, on site Visit village has implemented a tiered pricing structure, allowing visitors with varying budgets to participate.
"Visit Village" has sought to be a model of societal inclusivity by creating a community where differences are celebrated and integrated. This includes fostering cultural exchange and respecting and promoting diverse traditions. The project can be exemplary in this context by serving as a model for how agrotourism can be more inclusive and equitable. By demonstrating that it's possible to create environments and experiences that are accessible and affordable for all. It not only benefits from a broader and more diverse customer base but also contributes to the creation of a more inclusive and compassionate society overall.
Citizens and civil society have played a crucial role in the "Visit Village" agrotourism project.
The project actively engages with local communities to understand their needs, concerns, and aspirations. It involves them in the decision-making process regarding the types of agrotourism activities that are offered. This involvement ensures that the experiences provided are in harmony with local customs and traditions.
Local farmers are at the heart of the project. They have a significant role in offering agrotourism experiences. Their involvement ranges from hosting guests on their farms to leading tours and workshops. This involvement has not only provided them with additional income but also strengthened their connection with the community and the land.
The impact of this involvement has been significant. It has led to that the citizens feel a sense of ownership over the project, as they actively shape its offerings and direction. This enhances their commitment to the project's success. The involvement of citizens and civil society helps preserve local traditions and cultural practices. This, in turn, enhances the authenticity of the agrotourism experiences.
Overall, the "Visit Village" project's success is intrinsically linked to the involvement of citizens and civil society, who contribute to its inclusivity, authenticity, and sustainability.
Local farmers and small agribusinesses played a central role in the project. They were actively involved in offering agrotourism experiences on their farms, hosting guests, and conducting workshops and tours. Residents of the communities hosting agrotourism activities were engaged to provide insights into the local culture, traditions, and environment. They actively participated in events and activities, such as cultural demonstrations.
National tourism boards will play a crucial role in marketing and promoting the project both domestically and internationally. They leveraged their networks to increase the project's visibility.
As the project aimed to support sustainable agriculture and cultural preservation, it will sought EU grants and funding opportunities. EU stakeholders were involved in project assessment and alignment with EU agricultural and tourism policies. The project will be integrated into European agrotourism networks, allowing it to share best practices and benefit from international collaboration.
Vesna Korović and Marija Radunović have been in agriculture since birth. Vesna graduated political science, Marija graduated agricultural faculty.
In 2013, we crossed paths within the Ministry of Agriculture, when we started various projects to support farmers with a team of a few other people. During this time, Vesna manages horizontal processes (irregularities, risks, legal frameworks), Marija vertical ones (administrative applications, control on the ground). Since 2017, we have been launching electronic submission of requests according to the specification that we wrote ourselves. We constantly improve the process by working with agricultural producers and through the exchange of experiences with colleagues from the EU.
We are driven by desire to promote life in the countryside and show it from the perspective of people who are becoming more and more aware of sustainability every day. We are drawn by respect for the two groups of people to which we belong, which are separated as if they were living in different ages. On the one hand, the farmers who feed us are the guardians of the tradition and cultural heritage of rural areas and bearers of ecological, social and, to a large extent, cultural sustainability. On the other hand, people who unwittingly got involved in the goals of modern man, moving away from nature, which as a result gives more and more mental and physical diseases.
As individuals, for the past two years, Marija and Vesna have gone through a series of pre-accelerator programs (Support in the development of business ideas - Upbeat Hub, Mtel digital factory, UNDP BOOST Women Innovators, ReLOaD...), through these programs there was a significant transformation in the idea itself . In the competitions we won and thay support us financially:
• Mtel digital factory
• XII Exchange of Entrepreneurial Ideas
• Spark.me startup adventure
• Let's discover the potential of health tourism in Montenegro

The Visit village project represents an innovative approach to combining traditional rural tourism with agrotourism and medical tourism. Focusing on booking a stay on agricultural farms and experiencing that experience as a special lifestyle, the project not only provides the opportunity for tourists to experience rural life, but also integrated the medical benefits of staying in nature, preserving traditions and gaining new experiences specific only to that locality.
Main objectives:
Connecting tourists (domestic and foreign) with authentic agricultural farms. This allows tourists to experience the traditional way of life, learn about agricultural activities and enjoy local products.
The focus is on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through being in nature. Visitors have the opportunity to relax in a natural environment, which is associated with reduced stress, improved mental health and a stronger immune system. Furthermore, it is possible to present therapies developed on farms, which directly or indirectly affect health improvement (apitherapy, phytotherapy, programs to improve motor skills, special types of nutrition...)
Encouraging the preservation of traditional work methods and ways of life in the countryside. This contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and supports local communities. Gaining new experiences, such as fruit picking, learning about organic production, cheese making, wine making and food preparation offer a rich experience.
Contribution to economic development and involvement of the younger population in rural areas through tourism and promotion of sustainability. Linking tourism with agriculture reduces the need for long trips and allows local communities to profit and is also attractive for younger generations who currently do not decide to continue agricultural activities on their parents' farms.
Identification and contacting of agricultural holdings - identification is in progress, a database of potential holdings that need to be contacted and, if necessary, visited in the field has been created. This activity will last throughout the project. Define offers on the platform - MVP is defined, but this is a work that is constantly refined as we identify new services in constant communication with farms.
Development of the online platform (MVP) - 30% of the planned functionalities for the MVP have been developed. In the first year, the plan is to develop automatic recognition and translation in the selected language and a complete farm offer. In the second year, the plan is to implement the calendar, reservation, premium profiles and advanced searches over the database and graphic part.
Developing and implementing a marketing campaign to attract tourists, using online and offline channels. We plan to develop a marketing plan in the first year of the project, in the first year we plan to take the first steps foreseen in this plan. An external expert will be hired to create the marketing plan.
Cooperation with local tourist organizations, in order to promote activities and attract tourists. This activity is planned to go on continuously for 3 years. Providing education and training to farms.
Gradual expansion and development of additional offers following the situation on the ground and legislative frameworks.
The "Visit Village" agrotourism project offers several elements that can be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries, and contexts. The website and booking system used by "Visit Village" can be replicated with adjustments to suit other agrotourism destinations on all EU. The offer for farm can be customized to showcase different locations and experiences. The project's approach to involving local communities, farmers, and small businesses in agrotourism activities will be replicated in other regions.
In Montenegro, we have more than 18,000 agricultural farms. In the territory of the Balkans, depending on the source, but the number of farms exceeds a million. In Europe, according to Eurostat data, we have more than 10 million farms, while according to the data of the Pan European Association of Rural Tourism, the number of farms that additionally engage in tourism is over 200,000, with over two million beds. The same source states that accommodation on agricultural farms, in private country houses, generates direct annual tourist consumption of around 12 billion euros.
In Montenegro, the Balkans and Europe, all agricultural farms have their own specificities and distinctiveness in production, tradition and location. As such, they are attractive both for foreign tourists and for domestic ones, whether they are day, weekend or multi-day visits.
The most significant market trends are, apart from sustainability and environmental responsibility, which, in our opinion, are leading, the trend of increasing concern not only about physical but also mental health, gastronomic and experiential trends, connecting with local communities and recreational vacations. New trends on agricultural farms, which are still in their infancy, are organizing team building, weddings, celebrations, with a touch of the greatest possible presence of agro motifs, from replacing chairs with bales to setting the wedding table inside the vineyard.
Visit Village provides localized solutions to address various global challenges, contributing to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aligning with international efforts to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world.
Agrotourism encourages sustainable farming practices and promotes food security. By supporting local farmers and showcasing eco-friendly agriculture, the project contributes to global efforts to ensure a stable food supply.
The project emphasizes eco-friendly farming methods, afforestation, and reduced carbon footprint, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Agrotourism generates income for local communities, reducing poverty and providing economic opportunities. This aligns with global goals to eliminate poverty and promote inclusive economic growth.
By showcasing and preserving local cultures and traditions, the project contributes to the conservation of global cultural heritage and the protection of indigenous knowledge.
Agrotourism revitalizes rural areas and helps counter rural-urban migration trends, promoting balanced regional development. This addresses global issues related to urbanization and rural population decline.
The workshops, training, and cultural exchange activities offered by the project promote education and knowledge sharing, aligning with global goals to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.
The project empowers local communities to actively participate in agrotourism, aligning with global efforts to support grassroots initiatives and community-led development.
"Visit Village" promotes responsible tourism practices and environmental stewardship, setting an example for sustainable tourism initiatives worldwide.
As individuals, for the past two years, Marija and Vesna have gone through a series of pre-accelerator programs (Support in the development of business ideas - Upbeat Hub, Mtel digital factory, UNDP BOOST Women Innovators, ReLOaD...), through these programs there was a significant transformation in the idea itself. In the competitions we won and have received support:
• Mtel digital factory
• XII Exchange of Entrepreneurial Ideas
• Spark.me startup adventure
• Let's discover the potential of health tourism in Montenegro
Direct Beneficiaries:
Local farmers have witnessed increased income by hosting tourists, selling farm products, and offering agrotourism activities. This directly improves their financial well-being.
Tourists benefit from unique experiences, including hands-on agricultural activities, cultural immersion, and interactions with local communities. This fosters personal growth, cultural understanding, and memorable experiences.
The project has created business opportunities for local entrepreneurs who offer services like accommodation, transport, and guided tours. This entrepreneurial spirit enhances local economic development.
Indirect Beneficiaries:
Schools and educational institutions benefit from educational programs, workshops, and field trips to participating farms. This engagement fosters a culture of learning about agriculture, ecology, and culture.
The influx of tourists and the growth of agrotourism contribute to municipal and regional economic development. This leads to improved infrastructure, public services, and overall development.
Indirectly, the project contributes to cultural preservation by promoting traditional practices, folklore, and cultural heritage.
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