It′s 13th November and we still have 13 questions outstanding

– from #TTTT2022 –

The Tourism Think Tank – Regeneration for the Region started in Tivat, Montenegro, in November 2022. International tourism professionals including the neighbouring countries of the Western Balkans came together for the first time around hand-selected topics that are moving, shaking and changing everybody′s work and our industry locally and globally.

?The “unconference” was characterized by space and time for conversations and networking, also introducing the new communication format of a “Magic Round Table”. On Day 2, Prof. Dr. Claudia C. Broezel opened with the words,?“Tell me. And I forget. Show me. And I remember. Involve me. And I understand.”

So we did. On that day the audience posed the following 13 questions on slido to the representative of the Ministry, Dr Aleksandra Sasha Gardasevic-Slavuljica to which she kindly promised to get answers which would then be published by the Tourism Organisation of Tivat. They were sent again to the Ministry, with a letter sharing the feedback and proposing a sponsoring opportunity for the 2023 event, dated 21st February 2023, by Danica Banjevic – the then Director of the Tourism Organisation of Tivat.

Unfortunately, there has been no response, so those answers are still due. We share those questions here once more, to give the opportunity to the responsible institutions to do their duty in terms of transparency and communication towards their taxpayers and other stakeholders.

Whoever has the answers, you are welcome to share here below in comments.

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM, 15 NOVEMBER 2022

?TIVAT TOURISM THINK TANK 2022

1. Regarding digitalisation in tourism: How will the government support small businesses to become competitive?

2. Global standards for sustainable travel and tourism are set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). How far are you with the Action Plan regarding GSTC membership and training of Montenegro representatives?

3. How is / will success be measured in Montenegro′s tourism?

4. How far are you with the Action plan regarding organisation of training / courses for the employees of local tourism organisations?

5. Do you have any sustainability criteria for businesses who apply for tourism grants?

6. What efforts are you undertaking to collaborate with other Western Balkans countries to market the region as a whole?

7. What do you think Montenegro's most problematic area is when it comes to sustainability and climate change and what is politics planning to do about this?

8. Wouldn’t it be good to organise similar gatherings with neighbouring countries too?

9. Will waste management come to the table anytime soon? Banning single use plastics, starting with tourism in MNE?

10. Can we look forward to a budget that is not only €2 million for the NTO?

11. Can you give me some examples of how Montenegro is managing destinations in a sustainable way and helping them create a green destination? Some real handles that are in place that destinations can ask for or know they can get help with?

12. Is Climate Change part of the national educational package and if not why not?

13. DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association would love to be involved in training local people (boaters) in dolphin watch guidelines or issues of climate change and impact to our marine environment, alongside being involved in marine policy/management decisions. What are ways to make this happen?

After the great feedback to last?year’s inaugural educational-experiential event Montenegro, #TTT23 will be a full day’s online conference, deploying the latest technology to include more people – with interpretation into three languages, polls, Q & A… and we are thrilled to have Harold Goodwin as our keynote speaker.

Please register here:?https://events.zoom.us/ev/AqyYue1Jbk71uLQw0HBCLZghNLAjZSr1TqWEbaFIBlmWvN0gPfhA~AggLXsr32QYFjq8BlYLZ5I06Dg?lmt=1699888688000

This event is brought to you thanks to the following sponsors and supporters: the Tourism Organisation of Tivat, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Support to Economic Diversification of Rural Areas in Southeast Europe (SEDRA II), the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro, Earth Changers and HYV? Coaching & Consulting d.o.o.