First cluster group meetings for DOT project

Posted on December 16, 2011

CSTI has conducted the first gathering of Montenegrin stakeholders in the cross border project - Business Cooperation and Skills Improvement for the Development of Outdoor Tourism (DOT). This two day meeting was held in Herceg-Novi on December 14^th and 15^th, 2011.

Stakeholders are members of a cross border cluster which was formed with interested and qualified travel agencies, outdoor clubs, NGOs and public institutions - one group was formed each in Croatia and in Montenegro. The objective of these cluster groups is to improve the quality of tourist offerings in the designated cross border region.

The first cluster group meeting was held in early December 2011 in Dubrovnik, Croatia with members of the Croatian cluster group. This meeting was organized by our coordinating partner in Croatia, NGO SUNCE, with CSTI representatives also in attendance. At this meeting we confirmed important details such as program design. The decision was made to incorporate 5 program areas into the final project offering - hiking, cycling, multi-active, family, and sea kayaking. This decision was made in order to: promote these activities as programs in the brochure and as itineraries on web site. Participants were divided into groups, with each group being assigned the task of creating a sample program in Croatia for one of the 5 activity areas to be included in the DOT offering (hiking, cycling, multi-active, family, sea kayak).

The next meeting was organized by CSTI and held in Herceg Novi with members of the Montenegrin cluster group participants. Representatives of travel agencies, outdoor clubs, NGOs and project partners were in attendance at each of these meetings. As at the meeting in Dubrovnik, CSTI and SUNCE began the workshop by presenting the DOT project to attendees. During this presentation we informed participants of outcomes previously achieved by the DOT project such as marking and signposting of trails, improvement of trail infrastructure, and training workshops. Indication of these results will be interesting and valuable for many group members and should help clarify the tangible benefits of participation in DOT project.

Following the presentation of the DOT project in Herceg Novi, each member of the Montenegrin cluster group introduced their perspective organization. By the end of the first day participants were divided into groups, with each group being assigned the task of creating a sample program in Montenegro for one of the 5 activity areas to be included in the DOT offering (hiking, cycling, multi-active, family, sea kayak).

Day two of the workshop ensued with each group presenting their proposed itineraries. Each itinerary outlined 4 days of planned activities in Montenegro, which will ultimately be combined with similar 4 day offerings by members of the Croatian cluster group (to create a final 8 day joint program for visitors). This assignment served as practice in program design and to familiarize members of the cluster group with expectations and procedures for the DOT project.