The National Tourism Organization of Montenegro (NTO Montenegro) organized a conference in Podgorica on the topic of “First steps for joint cooperation and management of sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean” within the project “Dialogue for Tourism”.
It is a project dedicated to the improvement of tourism management in the Mediterranean region, in which NTO Montenegro is the leading partner from Montenegro, while the associate partner is the Directorate for Statistics MONSTAT. The goal of the project is to create greener and smarter tourism in the Mediterranean through intensive cross-border cooperation, and the conference in Podgorica was attended by partners from seven Mediterranean countries: Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Croatia.
The conference was organized as part of a two-day event in the premises of the European House, and in addition to the project partners, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro took part in it. One of the conclusions of the conference is that it is necessary to improve coordination and institutional capacities, as well as strategies and initiatives, with the aim of transforming tourism into greener, smarter and more resistant to the impact of global changes, in order to ensure sustainable growth in the future. At the panel discussion, the results of other cross-border cooperation projects were presented, such as the creation of a network of sustainable tourist observatories, and the importance of the development of observatories in Montenegro was identified.
On this occasion, the representative of NTO Montenegro, Ana Đurnić, said that such gatherings are a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas, experiences and examples of best practice in order to achieve a common goal, i.e. sustainable development of the destination.
Đurnić recalled that in recent years the global tourism industry has faced unprecedented challenges.
– Climate change, overdevelopment and uncontrolled tourist activities have threatened the very landscapes and communities that make the Mediterranean so enchanting. It is no longer enough to simply enjoy this paradise; we must protect and nurture it for the generations to come – explained Đurnić and added that Montenegro is no exception in this regard.
– In Montenegro, as well as in the wider Mediterranean region, we are called to reduce our environmental impact, promote environmentally friendly transport and support local communities, which are the heart of this country. In this way, we can preserve the unique charm of Montenegro, and at the same time provide permanent economic benefits to its inhabitants – concluded Đurnić.
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