"Taste of Mostar" round table on the protection and promotion of indigenous products

The Tourist Board of the City of Mostar, in cooperation with the City of Mostar and the organization People in Need, organizes a round table entitled "Taste of Mostar: protection and promotion of indigenous products with the aim of strengthening the tourist offer of the City of Mostar". The event will take place on Friday, December 5, from 16:30 to 18:30 at Code Hub Mostar.

The round table represents one of the first steps in the implementation of the recommendations of the Civic Assembly of the City of Mostar in 2024, which relate to strengthening the tourist infrastructure, extending the stay of visitors and improving information through digital tools and content.

The event will connect the topic of protection and standardization of autochthonous products with the development of the tourist offer, especially in the segments of gastronomy, rural tourism and eno-gastro routes. Participants will have the opportunity to hear about international standards and EU frameworks (PGI/PDO), as well as their importance for small producers and the HoReCa sector.

The potential of Herzegovinian indigenous products — such as žilavka, blatina, fig jam, cheese from the bellows, Herzegovinian honey, raštika and rosehip — will be specifically analyzed, and 3–5 priorities for further branding and certification will be defined.

The central idea of the event is summed up in the message: "If we want visitors to stay in Mostar for more than a few hours, they must have something to try, take away and tell - indigenous products are a key part of that story."

The round table will gather around 20 participants, including local food and beverage producers, the HoReCa sector, travel agencies and guides, representatives of the City of Mostar, the academic community, representatives of relevant institutions, representatives of embassies and local media.

The panel discussion will be divided into three thematic blocks:

1. Indigenous products and geographical indications - where is Mostar today?
2. Tourism and the story of the product - how to increase the stay and consumption of visitors?
3. Support and next steps - recommendations for the City of Mostar and partners in 2025.

The participants will define 3-5 specific recommendations that the City of Mostar, with the support of partners and donors, will be able to incorporate into their tourism documents and action plans.

This event represents an important step forward in positioning Mostar as a destination recognized for its gastronomy, tradition and quality local products, with an emphasis on sustainable and inclusive tourism development.

The activity is supported through the project "Strengthening democratic innovations and improvement of human rights at the local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina" implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe within the Action Plan of the Council of Europe for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2022-2025.