1. Regional Tourism Cooperation Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives & Montenegro Adventures Podgorica, 1 October 2009

2. CSTI & Montenegro Adventures CSTI – local NGO, established in February 2006, spin-off from USAID project implemented by CHF International Montenegro Adventures – established in January 2007, commercially registered subsidiary tourism agency and tour operator Both entities were created as lasting mechanisms for tourism development and promotion aiming at oFostering entrepreneurship oCreating jobs oIncreasing income oStimulating investment oImproving quality of life

3. Regional Routes developed by Montenegro Adventures, Green Visions & Outdoor Albania First meeting with current regional partners in 2006 Product development and market access in 2007 First regional group & individual trips in 2007 & 2008 with Exodus, Explore, Mountain Travel Sobek, Regent Holidays... 14 day Culture and Nature trip (Albania & Macedonia)‏ 11 day Cultural heritage trip (Croatia, Montenegro & BiH)‏ 10 day trekking trip (Croatia, Montenegro & BiH)‏ 8 day trekking trip (Croatia, Montenegro & BiH)‏ 5 day trekking trip (Albania & Greece) etc...

4. Challenges with Regional Routes Pricing Guide standards & recruitment Administrative barriers Border regulations Partner communication Image of the various destinations

5. IFC/WHL BALKAN HOTEL MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM Web based reservation & payment portal Local connection Access to regional & global markets Knowledge sharing Caring for destination

6. IFC/WHL BALKAN HOTEL MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM Network on the Balkans consists of destination portals: One portal in Slovenia, two in Croatia, three in BiH, one in Serbia, one in Macedonia, two in Albania and three in Montenegro. Example - Initial outputs from January to end September (Montenegro): No of unique visitors: 85138 No of visits: 117582 No of pages viewed: 202720 No of tourists visiting MN: 674 No of overnights: 2353

7. WHL REGIONAL COOPERATION EXAMPLES SECOND PHASE – COOPEARATION: Client sharing Technical knowledge sharing (SEO, marketing through social media…) Development of Balkan Portal (ex-Yu + AL)‏ SECOND PHASE – CAPACITY BUILDING OF MSMEs: Support to small hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses: Market readiness assessment Content collection exercise Market access workshops

8. CSTI Regional Initiatives Supported by GTZ Need to diversify funding and create strategic alliances with international organizations present in the field, and to expand its activities throughout Montenegro Importance of donor cooperation meetings – e.g. Hiking & Biking Working Group New opportunities within IPA funds GTZ working in the broader region of Skadar Lake, helping local partners to form associations with the aim to build the agro – tourism products, thus connecting agricultural producers to tourism. Thematic routes: Wine routes Honey routes Smoked ham (proscuitto) routes

9. CSTI Regional Initiatives - Old Royal MN, Skadar Lake Product Development, Via Dinarica CSTI submitted its first project “Re-discovering Cultural Treasures of Old Royal Montenegro Region”, the project was approved and we expect that the contract will be signed in October Partners: GTZ and Naturpark Schwarzwald in Germany New cross boarder Albania-Montenegro project submitted on 29 September

10. VIA DINARICA Enhancing the way of life in the communities around the Central Dinaric Alps using sustainable tourism development as a tool.

11. VIA DINARICA

12. THANK YOU! Slavica Vukcevic slavica@montenegro-adventures.com Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives www.cstimontenegro.org Montenegro Adventures www.montenegro-adventures.com www.travel-budva.com www.travel-kotor.com www.travel-podgorica.com