Balkan regional fairs promote culinary heritage and wine tourism

Various regional festivals and trade fairs across the Balkans are highlighting local gastronomy, traditional crafts, and agricultural products.

In Serbia, the ‘Wine Vision by Open Balkan’ international fair in Belgrade has opened, featuring 550 exhibitors from over 30 countries. The event aims to boost wine exports and includes a strategic cooperation agreement between the Tourism Organization of Serbia and Italy’s EPLI to promote mutual tourism.

In Croatia, several cultural and culinary events are underway. The Pogača Fest in Slavonski Brod celebrates the traditional Šokac fatty pastry, a protected intangible cultural good. The Dunav Wine Festival in Ilok recently hosted the ITER VITIS Awards, promoting wine tourism in the Slavonia and Danube regions. Additionally, the Good Food Festival in Dubrovnik is showcasing modern gastronomy alongside local heritage.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ‘Raštikijada’ festival in Marića gaj promotes the use of raštika, a local superfood, through culinary competitions. Meanwhile, the ‘Hercegovački plodovi Mediterana’ in Stolac brings together producers of Mediterranean products like olives and figs to strengthen the link between agriculture and tourism.

In Kosovo, the ‘Barica’ Rakija Festival in Gornje Kusce gathered producers from the region, including participants from Bulgaria and North Macedonia, to promote traditional fruit brandies.