Montenegro

Valuable donations for the Mountaineering Association and the Mountain Rescue Service of Montenegro

Podgorica, 7 July 2009

Within a joint Wilderness Hiking and Biking project, the Ministry of Tourism and UNDP in Montenegro donated €10.000 worth equipment to the Mountaineering Association and €40.000 worth equipment to the Mountain Rescue Service of Montenegro. These are some of the activities that the Ministry of Tourism and UNDP are implementing to strengthen the institutional capacities for development of hiking and biking as a segment of tourism offering in Montenegro.  For the realization of the Project the Government of Montenegro has allocated €100.000 and the UNDP allocated $100.000.

According to Mr. Brano Perović, President of the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro, the donation will further strengthen the Association’s capacities and will assist the Montenegrin mountaineering clubs in further promoting and offering the mountain paths to domestic and foreign guests.

Mr. Enis Ljuljanović, Advisor at the Ministry of Tourism stated on this occasion that this year the Ministry has continued to work intensely on development of nature-based tourism, in cooperation with numerous domestic and international partners and representatives of mountaineering and cycling associations. „The Mountaineering Association of Montenegro, along with the network of mountaineering clubs has been recognized as one of the most important stakeholders in development of mountaineering in Montenegro,” said Mr. Ljuljanović

“This donation is just one of the activities that UNDP is implementing in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism in the area of hiking and biking development,” Mr. Tomica Paović, UNDP Tourism and Private Sector Project Manager pointed out, and he also emphasized the importance of capacity development for the Mountaineering Rescue Service (MRS). “Therefore, the equipment donated to the MRS will be complemented with other activities such as: a training for novice mountain and ski rescuers, admission to the International Commission of Alpine Rescue (IKAR-CISA), etc.,” Mr. Paović said.

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UNDP CO Montenegro assists the Ministry of Tourism in implementing a revised Tourism Master Plan 2007-2020. Specifically, UNDP focuses on developing the Hiking/Biking Paradise concept in the North Western Montenegro. Montenegro has great natural resources for development of this type of nature based tourism and proper valorisation of those resources can bring economic growth especially to the north of the country, as the most underdeveloped region, but to other regions as well. For proper development of this type of tourism there was a need to indentify and further develop: needed infrastructure and institutions in charge of that infrastructure and further development of nature based tourism. Mountaineering and Biking Associations were recognised as one of the key actors in development of this type of tourism and as two associations that have most of relevant experience and the greatest number of active members spread through clubs in all parts of the country. UNDP provides full support to the Ministry of tourism and involved associations in establishment of Mountaineering and Biking Associations as self-sufficient institutions in charge of maintenance of the national hiking and mountain biking trail infrastructure, implementation of new legislation on nature based tourism and further promotion and development of this type of tourism in accordance with best international standards. Also, Mountaneering Rescue service is going to be in a focus as one of the key players leading the tourism support services in Montenegro.

Project Goal:

Development of nature based tourism in Montenegro, with special focus on hiking and biking, and tourism safety through adoption of legislation framework and capacity building of institutions in charge of development of this type of tourism.

Project Components:

1. Creation of legislative framework for development of hiking and biking in Montenegro: drafting the bylaws and internal acts for the Mountaneering rescue service (MRS) under the Mountaineering Association; Registry of trails; Conditions and ways of choosing the host of the trail; Standards for the trails

2. Capacity building: Establishment of a 2-year business plan for MRS; strategic development plan for the Rescue Service

a. Licensing for current and future rescuers
b. Renewing the equipment for the GSS
c. Formalizing the International standards acceptance and membership in IKAR

3. International distribution networks for Hiking and Biking products

4. Pilot trail to be equipped in accordance with the legislation

5. Support to the Mountaineering and Biking Associations in accepting the international standards as well as membership in respective bodies