Tourism Street Fair

The first ever street fair in Kosovo organized in Peja/Pec on September 26, 2009 by TPD Consulting with the support of the USAID Kosovo Private Enterprise Program under the "Stay the Weekend - Experience Kosovo" motto, is another success of KPEP efforts in the development of the tourism sector in Kosovo. The opening ceremony was attended by the US Ambassador in Kosovo, the USAID Kosovo Mission Director, the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Mayor of Peja/Pec.

About 40 exhibitors representing handcraft, restaurants and tour operators of this region confirmed participation but on September 26, more than 60 providers of tourism offers and products showed up, and started to sell their products hours before the official opening of the street fair at 12:00. The street fair was attended by more than 1,000 visitors, and generated satisfactory sales for the exhibitors, exceeding €7,000 of products and services, and indirectly generating €18,000 of related sales, including hotel stays and food purchases.

The street fair was divided in three sectors: food and beverages, handicrafts and traditional clothing, and tour operators and sport activities. About 15 restaurants prepared a variety of local dishes, while about 25 handicraft booths exhibited hand-made traditional clothing and decorative items. The tour operators sector was very busy with inquiries from international visitors interested in booking tours.

Syzana Baja, Tourism Advisor to USAID Kosovo Private Enterprise Program for the Street Event and Director of Rugova Experience, said that the event showcased a variety of experiences and activities. "Visitors and Peja/Pec citizens had a great time," she said. "The KPEP tourism team and TPD Consulting, the event organizer," Baja continued, "worked closely with the Municipality to ensure that restaurants, handicrafts, tour organizers, music and art groups were all represented at the Fair. For many of them, this was the first time they participated in an outdoor fair. It was quite a new experience, but one that I think all enjoyed and appreciated."

The Peja/Pec Street Fair follows the successful "Stay the Weekend, Experience Kosovo", which was organized on April 22, 2009 co-sponsored by KPEP with the Kosovo Tourism Association in Pristina.