The spring edition of the STAR Residency Program has been successfully completed after a month of travelling, remote work, and exploring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro through the eyes of digital nomads. Supported by the European Union through the IPA III CBC Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027, the program brought together international professionals who documented the region’s potential for remote work, coworking, and sustainable tourism through an authentic experience of living and working in the Balkans.
Journey Through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro
During the program, participants visited key destinations across both countries:
Montenegro: Podgorica, Kolašin, Žabljak, Mojkovac, Šavnik, Plužine, Nikšić, Herceg Novi, Kotor
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ravno, Stolac, Čapljina, Ljubuški, Mostar, Grude
The focus of the program was not traditional tourism, but rather a slow travel approach and a deeper connection with local communities, coworking spaces, rural households, and natural destinations.
STAR Residency Program Participants
The program brought together international digital nomads and creatives:
• Simon Lewis
• Matthias Zeitler
• Michael Cohen
• Alice Longhurst
• Lindsey Ellison
• Samantha Symonds
• Nesen Yucel
Through their social media channels, participants shared daily insights into life and work on the move, highlighting the region’s potential for long-term stays and the remote work lifestyle.
Experiences of Digital Nomads
Michael Cohen highlighted the value of slower travel and deeper engagement with local environments:
“There is something about moving slowly through unfamiliar terrain, crossing borders, and adapting to new places that strips away distractions. We wanted to show what life as a digital nomad on the ground really looks like.”
Simon Lewis described Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as destinations that exceed expectations:
“Bosnia and Herzegovina genuinely surprised me. Working in the mornings with mountain views and spending evenings in historic towns shows how naturally remote work and travel come together here.”
Nesen Yucel emphasized the importance of local experiences and people:
“Some places stay with you not because of their beauty, but because of the people and the feeling they leave behind. Herzegovina had both.”
The Role of Coworking Spaces and Local Communities
Coworking and community spaces played an important role in the program, particularly CODE Hub in Nikšić and Mostar.
These spaces provided participants with:
• a stable environment for remote work
• opportunities to connect with the local startup and creative communities
• knowledge-sharing, networking, and exchange of experiences
Such hubs were recognized as a key factor in the development of infrastructure for digital nomads across the region.
The Region’s Potential for Digital Nomads and Sustainable Tourism
The STAR Residency Program demonstrated that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro offer far more than a conventional tourist experience.
Key advantages of the region include:
• authentic local experiences
• stunning natural destinations and diverse landscapes
• a growing coworking infrastructure
• favourable conditions for long-term stays
• rich cultural and gastronomic offerings
Participants particularly highlighted the region’s potential for developing sustainable tourism and digital nomad-friendly destinations in Southeast Europe.
The successful completion of the spring STAR Residency Program confirms the growing interest of international digital nomads in the Balkans as a region that combines nature, culture, and modern ways of working. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are increasingly positioning themselves as destinations where travel, work, and local experiences can coexist without compromising either productivity or authenticity.
The project is implemented by INTERA Technology Park in partnership with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis (IEC Tehnopolis) and the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro within the IPA III CBC Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027.
