REDISCOVERING SUMMER VILLAGES AND PROMOTING ORGANIC MOUNTAIN PRODUCTS THROUGH ADVENTURE TOURS
Project Status: On going
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Family business Eco-Tours tourism agency in Montenegro aims to promote intelligently the beauty of Montenegro mountains, mainly in the Northern part of country (which is forgotten comparing to the south), through sustainable and community-based tourism. The agency involves local people at every stage of the preparation and organisation of its tours. It focuses also on training local staff and guides to sustainable tourism and respect for nature. Finally, it encourages locals to remain in their mountain areas, by developing tourism opportunities such as accommodation and production of organic food.
HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TO MOUNTAIN PROTECTION
The way Eco-tours works is to encourage people to remain in mountains areas and to become aware of the importance to protect nature all the time. Through its tourism programs, ET focuses on the education of local stakeholders about the importance of environment and sustainable behaviour, as well as the preservation of their traditional knowledge (agriculture) and culture (traditional costumes and dances).
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES
ET organizes tours that include family accommodation and food at local mountain residents. Locals are also involved as guides, administrative and logistical staff and collaborates with the local tourism organisation and local municipality of Kolasin, as well as the regional and National tourism organization.
GOING FURTHER THAN BUSINESS AS USUAL
ET tours & projects helped opening and re-discovering forgotten parts of mountains for local inhabitants, in particular the “katuns” summer villages located high in the mountains, which had been deserted by residents, as agriculture was decreasing. By developing new tourism possibilities, ET encouraged locals to rehabilitate their villages and develop new agriculture products and methods, as organic food.
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
We already described that stewardship in mountains have interest in collaboration with us, as we bring them, tourists, and they earn enough money and have opportunities to stay in the region. Cleaning actions we organized attracted mostly young volunteers, giving them opportunities to enjoy nature with friends and to help them to understand importance of sustainable way of treating nature.
CONTACT
Ivana Draskovic
eco-tours@t-com.me
eco-tours.co.me/eng/home/home.html
