Responsible Relationship with the Environment
On 20 May 2025, I contributed to the TOUR conference “Responsible Relationship with the Environment”, held at Hotel Cataro in Kotor, Montenegro.
The conference connected practical approaches to responsible tourism with the testing and validation of the TOUR Action Plan. It provided a setting for exchange among tourism operators, experts, public institutions and civil society organisations.
My role covered conference facilitation, networking and conclusions, helping connect participants’ perspectives with the practical questions surrounding implementation.
Making responsible tourism practical
The morning programme reviewed TOUR activities and lessons learned before turning to guidance that tourism operators and local businesses could communicate to visitors.
Topics included reducing single-use plastics, responsible waste disposal, public transport and active mobility, and respectful behaviour towards wildlife and protected areas.
An expert panel examined the benefits and challenges of ecotourism, including its contribution to conservation and local communities. Through facilitation, I supported exchanges between these broader objectives and the everyday decisions facing tourism businesses and destinations.
Connecting people and experience
Networking formed an integral part of the conference. Informal exchanges created opportunities for tourism businesses, NGOs and policymakers to discuss shared interests and possible cooperation.
My contribution focused on encouraging dialogue across these groups and connecting practical experience with institutional perspectives. This exchange was relevant to considering how sustainable tourism initiatives could attract support and be adapted across different regional contexts.
Reviewing the TOUR Action Plan
The afternoon programme focused on implementation feasibility and stakeholder feedback on the Action Plan. Key topics included eco-certification, sustainable infrastructure and community engagement.
Case studies, simulations and small-group discussions were included to examine how recommendations could be applied locally, identify obstacles and explore possible solutions.
The programme also addressed policy integration, monitoring and the wider use of successful practices, bringing public- and private-sector responsibilities into the discussion.
Bringing together conclusions
In the concluding session, I helped draw together the conference’s main messages and implementation considerations. The focus was on connecting recommendations with the responsibilities of public authorities, tourism operators and civil society, alongside the need to monitor progress.
The conference linked practical visitor guidance with destination planning and cooperation. My facilitation aimed to keep those connections clear, supporting participants in considering how responsible tourism principles could inform their own work.
