Dubrovnik, Croatia: The closing event of the project “Explore Cross-border Aquatic Biodiversity – EXChAngE” was held on 10th November 2022 at Dubrovnik University, Croatia. After 27 months of implementation, the main result was presented: a new tourism product – Blue Pass, which enables visits with discount rates of new thematic routes with improved infrastructure: Dubrovnik and Aquarium (Croatia), Kotor and Aquarium Boka (Montenegro), Hutovo Blato Aqua Path, and Mostar Aqua Path (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and attracts more tourists in the area. Blue Pass ticket is available at EXChAngE project partners’ selling points.
On the project’s main result, Dr. Nenad Antolović, Project Director, said, “Blue Pass is much more than a discount pass for five thematic routes in three neighboring countries. It is accompanied by a digital tourist guide and creates a community for sustainable use of the cross-border aquatic biodiversity”.
The project is implemented by five partners: the University of Dubrovnik, Croatia (leading partner), Tourist Organization Kotor, Montenegro, University of Montenegro – Institute of Marine Biology, Montenegro, Tourist Community HNK/Z, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nature Park Hutovo Blato, Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project is supported under the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-2020. The total project budget is 1,7 M Euro with EU co-financing of 1,4 M Euro. The project started on 15th August 2020 and was lasting 27 months.
About Blue Pass EXChAngE Tourist Guide: Blue Pass EXChAngE Guide enables exploring the cultural and natural heritage of the cross-border area Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, in particular cross-border aquatic biodiversity. For easy reading and navigation through the content, the guide is structured in sections – each dedicated to one thematic route. Each section has four chapters, presenting (1) natural heritage, (2) cultural heritage, (3) one thematic route, and (4) transportation to the site. Chapters are structured into thematic topics, keeping as similar as possible outlines across the guide. The guide is available under the name “Blue Pass – EXChAngE” for Android at Google Play and for iOS mobile platforms at App Store.
