CSTI & Montenegro Adventures at Luxembourg Tourism Fair

Posted on January 25, 2008

Following the invitation of the Luxembourg - Montenegro Friendship Association and with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, the Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives and Montenegro Adventures travel agency were invited to participate in the VACANZ 2008 / Luxembourg Tourism Fair that was organized from January 18-20, 2008. 

More than 5000 Montenegrins live and work in Luxembourg today - all of them, as well as their friends and relatives (both in Montenegro and Luxembourg) are looking forward to facilitation of contact between our two countries: through direct airline connections, intercultural exchanges, and partnership between educational institutions as a few examples. They all hope that active bilateral contacts will be established between two countries.

Representation of Montenegro by CSTI and MA in at the VACANZ Fair in Luxembourg is one step toward greater communication and coordination between the countries, for the first time Montenegro was included in the official catalogue of the fair.

While preparing for VACANZ-2008, CSTI and MA had an opportunity to closely cooperate with the Berane Local Tourism Organization and the Centre for Rural Development of Petnjica. During the 5-day stay in Luxembourg the team from Montenegro made contacts with tour operators, travel agencies and citizens of Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and France, visiting the fair. For some of them Montenegro is still a relatively unknown country and they were searching for information related to accommodation, tours, cultural heritage sites, national parks or activities, as well as "how to get there."

Montenegro Adventures met with several tour operators and travel agencies from Luxembourg, and distributed approximately 800 brochures on Montenegro during the fair. An additional 1200 brochures will be distributed throughout Luxembourg by the Montenegro Friendship Association during 2008.

The Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives learned more about the organization of the youth hostels and youth exchanges. By meeting with Laurent Kreintz, manager of the Auberge de Jeunesse Luxembourg-ville, a well-managed youth hostel in the hearth of Luxembourg City, CSTI gained insight into best practices in youth hostel design and management.