As a part of the “Tourism, Adrenaline and Rafting Adventure (T.A.R.A)” Project, the municipalities of Foca (BiH) and Pluzine (Montenegro) organized on 30 June 2020 a coordination meeting for members of their rescue services (civil protection, police, health institutions, fire services and associations, protection and rescue services, Mountain Rescue Service), where measures, standards and modern safety trends at tourist sites, risk management and rescue on water and under water were discussed.
The project is implemented by the two municipalities in cooperation with the Nature Park Piva and the Tourist Organization of Foca, financed by the European Union in the amount of EUR 499,654.00. The project is implemented with the aim of developing and promoting the cross-border area as a unique destination for active tourism. The project implementation started on 1 December 2019 and it will last for two years, until the end of November 2021.
The meeting was opened by the Mayor of Foca, Radisav Masic, who emphasized the importance and significance of the safety aspect in tourism development in the two municipalities. In his presentation, the mayor emphasized the necessity of involving various institutions and other actors in the process of improving safety at tourist sites, especially on the fast river Tara.
A member of the Mountain Rescue Mostar and search instructor, Goran Mitric, gave a lecture on safety standards, specifics of search and rescue on calm and fast waters, as well as on trends in this area. Mitric emphasized the importance of training rescue teams in relevant institutions and equipping them with adequate rescue equipment so that the services could react efficiently in rescue operations.
The participants of the coordination meeting also stressed the need to train new rescuers and the need for cooperation of all institutions and rescue clubs, and gave recommendations on how to jointly improve safety in the border area Foca and Pluzine, where the focus is on the Tara River. A discussion was initiated on the importance of fire protection, as one of the important safety aspects at tourist sites.