Kotor analyses its potential as an ecotouristic destination

Espai TReS, in partnership with eleMents, was in charge of the facilitation of the workshop

03/02/2014

An international workshop that took place in Kotor from 30th January to 1st February hosted academic and professional debates to define the critical issues to promote ecotourism as a strategy for local development in Boka Kotorska (Montenegro).

Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor) is one of the most renowned stretches of the Montenegrin coast, part of which has been designated as UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Concentration of different activities in this part of the coast is very high, and pollution problems (due to communal wastewater, maritime activities and industry) are exacerbated by the enclosed nature of the Bay. The area also hosts a rich biodiversity, expressed in a huge variety of landscapes, from the bay itself to the mountains that surround it. Ecotourism, understood as an environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, may present an opportunity for the sustainable management of this fragile ecosystem, which must be properly analysed to foster action to its development.

The Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC) together with the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) organised a 3 days' event focused on ecotourism as a major opportunity for sustainable development and as a source of green & quality jobs in Boka Kotorska, in the coast of Montenegro. This event was part of the CAMP Montenegro that is being implemented in the region. Xavier Sabaté, from Espai TReS, and Xavier Cazorla, from eleMents, were in charge of the facilitation of the workshop.

The workshop was aimed at the main stakeholders of the ecotourism sector in Boka Kotorska: local eco-entrepreneurs, travel agencies, public authorities, NGOs, university centres and international bodies. Its objectives were to share best practices on ecotourism, provide information and debate on the potential of ecotourism in Boka Kotorska, inspire the creation of new businesses on ecotourism, and encourage networking and interaction among participants, in order to build lasting relationships. During the Workshop some international case studies were presented, amongst them the ecotouristic initiatives by the Land stewardship Network of Catalonia.

The proceedings of the workshop will be integrated into the Feasibility Study on "Ecotourism for local development in Boka Kotorska (montenegro)", commissioned by SPA/RAC and SCP/RAC, which aims to analyse the sector of tourism and ecotourism in Boka Kotorska, and assess the potential of ecotourism entrepreneurship and businesses in Kotor. The study will come up with recommendations and conclusions on the implementation of ecotourism in Boka Kotorska in order to enable integrated coastal zone management of the coastal area of Montenegro.