Urban Escape Project Promotes Švrakava Waterfalls Through Environmental Education and Sustainable Tourism
As part of the project “Urban Escape – Youth Eco-Adventure and Virtual Presentation of Švrakava”, educational and field activities were held on 29 October 2026 at Švrakava Waterfalls and the “Rajska Dolina” rural household in the Banja Luka area.
The project is implemented by the Society of Spatial Planners of the Republic of Srpska, in cooperation with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, and the Tourism Organization of the Republic of Srpska (TORS), with financial support from the City of Banja Luka. The project coordinator is Prof. Dr. Tanja Mišlicki Tomić from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The programme brought together final-year students of Spatial Planning, Tourism, Geography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through practical fieldwork, students had the opportunity to connect their academic knowledge with research into the natural and tourism resources of the area.
At Švrakava Waterfalls, Prof. Dr. Dušica Pešević conducted an environmental workshop entitled “Conservation of Natural Values and Environmental Protection”. The workshop focused on watercourse protection, biodiversity conservation, and identifying the impact of human activities on natural ecosystems. During the field visit, students explored the site’s natural characteristics, identified potential environmental challenges, and collected data for further research and analysis.
The second part of the programe took place at the “Rajska Dolina” rural household, where Marko Radić, Head of Promotion at the Tourism Organization of the Republic of Srpska, delivered a lecture entitled “The Evolution of Tourism: From Ancient Travel to the Modern Tourism Industry”. The lecture introduced students to the historical development of tourism, contemporary tourism trends, and the importance of connecting natural attractions with rural tourism experiences.
An important component of the project involves photography and 360° imaging of Švrakava Waterfalls, which will serve as the basis for creating a virtual presentation of the site. This digital approach will provide new opportunities to showcase the area’s natural and tourism assets and make them more accessible to a wider audience.
Through its support for initiatives such as this, the Tourism Organization of the Republic of Srpska continues to encourage cooperation between academic institutions, professional associations, and the tourism sector, with the aim of improving the tourism offer, promoting lesser-known destinations, and fostering responsible use of natural resources.
The Urban Escape project demonstrates how education, practical fieldwork, and modern digital technologies can bring together nature conservation, tourism development, and the active involvement of young people in building a sustainable future for local communities.
