The STAR Residency program, which brings together digital nomads and is implemented with financial support from the European Union, has just begun.
The program gathers international professionals from the remote work community with the goal of promoting the region as an attractive destination for extended stays and remote work, while also strengthening the capacities of local tourism stakeholders.
The program includes a group of experienced digital nomads who will spend a month traveling through Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, combining remote work with the exploration of local destinations.
“I’ve been on my multi-week journey through Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the STAR Nomad Residency program for two days now. There’s something about moving slowly through unfamiliar terrain – crossing borders, shifting rhythms, adapting to new cities and rural environments for a few days at a time – that strips away the unnecessary. Over the next month, I expect that, together with my colleagues from the STAR Nomad Residency team, I’ll experience and document what life and work as a digital nomad on the ground really look like: the practical challenges, unexpected advantages, and community gathering points such as Code Hubs, which serve as meeting spots in Nikšić and Mostar, where digital nomads naturally come together. By mid-May, I hope to have a series of stories, experiences, and valuable insights worth sharing,” said Michael Cohen, one of the program participants.
Their stay is focused on authentic experiences, from natural beauty to cultural heritage, while using services provided by local tourism operators and spending extended time in selected locations. It is an intensive itinerary covering numerous destinations across both countries.
In Montenegro, the route includes Podgorica, Mojkovac, Kolašin, Šavnik, Žabljak, Plužine, Nikšić, Herceg Novi, and Kotor, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina it covers Ravno (Vjetrenica), Stolac, Čapljina (Hutovo Blato), Ljubuški, Mostar, and Grude.
The goal of this approach is to showcase the diversity of the cross-border region’s offer, while also presenting a realistic experience of living and working on the move.
The program is not designed as a typical tourist trip, but rather as a combination of work, exploration, and content creation. Participants will share authentic stories and recommendations through their own channels, focusing on lesser-known locations and local service providers, thereby contributing to the long-term visibility of the destination.
A special emphasis is placed on collecting concrete insights into the needs of digital nomads, from infrastructure and accommodation to the quality of services and the overall stay experience. These insights will serve as a basis for improving tourism products and better positioning the region in the global remote work market.
Through the STAR project, efforts are being made to strengthen the capacities of tourism operators, develop an innovative cross-border tourism product, and promote Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as destinations for sustainable travel and remote work.
The most exciting part of the program is expected to come from on-the-ground content, where participants will document their experiences and interactions with local communities, offering a different perspective on the region, one shaped by longer stays rather than short visits.
You can follow the journey, impressions, and recommendations of the digital nomads on the social media channels of INTERA and Tehnopolis, where their posts, photos, short videos, and route visuals are regularly shared.
The project is implemented by INTERA Technology Park in partnership with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis and the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro, within the IPA III CBC Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027.
