Understanding climate risk perceptions in Montenegro’s tourism sector

Learning through low-impact travel 

The fieldwork began with a deliberate choice for slow travel, a sustainable approach that minimises environmental impact and with respect for local cultures. Students traveled overland by train and bus to their destination, setting the tone for a conscious and reflective research journey. 

Upon arrival in Montenegro, students were introduced to the country’s tourism landscape, including its current practices, developments, and pressing challenges but also cultural immersion. This orientation provided a foundation for their field research. 

Field Research: exploring climate vulnerabilities

Working in teams, students conducted research in four geographically diverse tourism regions: 

• Boka Kotorska (Bay region)
• Žabljak & Pljevlja (Mountain region)
• Virpazar (Lake region)
• Bar & Ulcinj (Coastal region) 

Their research focused on identifying climate risk exposure and vulnerabilities specific to each destination. These case studies and findings were integrated into the broader Destination RiskScape project, an initiative funded by the Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality (CELTH), in collaboration with BUas, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, the European Tourism Futures Institute, and The Travel Foundation. 

Destination RiskScape: a tool for resilient tourism 

Destination RiskScape aims to develop a science-based, user-friendly tool that enables tourism destinations worldwide to assess and understand their climate risk profiles. The students’ findings contribute directly to the development of this methodology, offering grounded insights from the field. 

"Tourism often remains seasonal work. During the peak season, especially when it is short, stakeholders in destinations are primarily focused on securing their income, in what is often a highly competitive environment. 

However relevant and important mitigating climate risks may be, particularly in terms of safeguarding the long-term viability of their livelihoods, they simply do not have the capacity to address it. With the accessible tools we are developing in this project, an online risk scan and an offline serious game, we aim to break through this situation," explains Harald Buitendijk, senior researcher at Centre for Sustainability, Tourism & Transport at BUas.  

Engaging stakeholders and sharing insights 

The fieldwork concluded with a stakeholder event at the University of Montenegro, where students presented their initial findings. Key insights included: 

• The need to address tensions arising from rapid tourism development.
• The importance of locally-rooted, collaborative climate action planning.
• The value of aligning local strategies with a clear national policy framework.
• As Montenegro advances toward European Union membership, aligning its tourism and climate policies with EU frameworks becomes increasingly relevant. 

These findings underscore the importance of inclusive, multi-stakeholder approaches to climate adaptation in tourism. 

Strengthening international academic collaboration 

This fieldwork initiative was further enriched by a European ERASMUS grant, aimed at fostering collaboration between Dutch and Montenegrin knowledge institutions. As part of this exchange, three Montenegrin students studied in Breda during the semester and are now actively participating in the International Field Practicum in Montenegro alongside their Dutch peers.  

The Bachelor of Science Tourism is a joint degree program of Breda University of Applied Sciences and Wageningen University & Research.

Read more about Destination RiskScape