{"id":40387,"date":"2022-12-12T10:33:53","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T09:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.tivat.travel\/event-round-up\/"},"modified":"2022-12-12T10:33:53","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T09:33:53","slug":"event-round-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.tivat.travel\/en\/event-round-up\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Event Round-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wrapping up Tivat Tourism Think Tank 2022 \u2013 Thoughts from the MCs!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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To start, tourism isn\u2019t an \u201cindustry\u201d, <\/span>Anna Pollock<\/span><\/a> told us, which implies something controllable: rather, it\u2019s a living, networked, dynamic, ecosystem – and we are all part of it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It certainly seems uncontrollable with a forecast average growth rate of 5.8% (WTTC) from 2022, meaning the number of tourists will <\/span>double <\/span><\/b>between now and 2034. Let that sink in – as you think of the busy times now.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The world is facing the climate crisis, biodiversity collapse, droughts, famines, floods, fires\u2026 but these are not the problems, these are the <\/span>symptoms<\/span><\/i> of our broken system. Even \u2018do good\u2019 net-positive runs on the existing degenerative system. We need to change the system and introduce new measures of success. Especially when, facing those numbers, we recognise that \u2018tourists hate other tourists\u2019. It is essential to now <\/span>\u201cstart re-defining success to the way it is defined throughout the natural world: not as more (quantity) but as better (quality, well-being)\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Montenegro, everyone wants space and nature. Space enables recreation that hospitality facilitates for rejuvenation: we are in the business of <\/span>re-creation<\/span><\/i>. Anna\u00b4s Regeneration Lab asked the participants to think together in four dimensions about how the tourism-hospitality sector might contribute to the flourishing \/ health of the Kotor bay area!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ulf Sonntag<\/span><\/a> (Institute for Tourism Research in Northern Europe)<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/b>reminded us that those who <\/span>are not<\/span><\/i> sun and beach tourists spend more per day and stay practically as long; they fit with what Montenegro has to offer and also come more often outside the summer peak months. He pointed out this exceptionally high gap: Interest for Montenegro in Germany is around 50x bigger than is experienced. The need for better, knowledge-based marketing is obvious, also for further Western and Northern European countries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Terena Cardwell<\/span><\/a> from Spoonbill Nest Innovation Center in Albania and the Green Coordinator of the first Travelife certified tour operator in the region, Elite Travel Group, pointed out the Balkans have <\/span>\u201cthe longest histories, but institutions seem to have the shortest memories.\u201d <\/span><\/i>This is why we see many projects come and go, and when political change happens, we are often taken \u201cback to square one\u201d, causing a lot of frustration and slow progress. Further, Terena said that tourism may happen physically in cities, communities and nature, but the tourism experience is in the tourist\u2019s mind \u2013 we need to build the experience there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bruce Yerkovich<\/span><\/a> from Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch in Croatia highlighted that <\/span>\u201cwe are not developed\u201d<\/span><\/i> is wrong! Instead: <\/span>\u201cwe are preserved\u201d<\/span><\/i>. Living in the <\/span>UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration <\/span><\/a>this is a big advantage. We must not restore so much as others; it is enough to preserve and protect what we have. He taught us to give ourselves permission to change through travel, which starts with mindset, attitude, purpose and taking responsibility. <\/span><\/p>\n

For <\/span>Imbi Lepik-Martinson<\/span><\/a> from Visit Estonia, the pandemic turned into a busy 18 months of doing just that with a sustainable-first mindset for Green Destinations, certifying more than 80 businesses in such a short time and getting 7 Estonian destinations awarded through the development and monitoring process! In the Western Balkans, Tivat has managed to do the same, demonstrating a similar shift from local tourism and marketing focus to a destination management organisation. To the question, how did she manage to get into cooperation with everybody, Imbi looked astonished and said smiling \u2013 <\/span>\u201coh, we just did\u201d. <\/span><\/i>Communication can be very pragmatic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Simon Reuter<\/span><\/a> of outdooractive highlighted how traditional marketing channels like magazines and brochures are failing. The future of travel marketing is digital – 80% of website traffic is organic from search engines \u2013 but who can cut through now? Platforms offer distribution, reaching the right kind of target groups, triggering communication and sharing. Furthermore, he noted that the promotion of single \u201chighlight\u201d destinations leads to contrasts between overcrowded and underserved places.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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On Day 2, <\/span>Prof. Dr. Claudia Br\u00f6zel<\/span><\/a> opened with the words,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTell me. And I forget.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>
\nShow me. And I remember.<\/span><\/i>
\nInvolve me. And I understand.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We talked about resonance and what this means when we want to change travel (<\/span>\u201ceverybody likes to see a dolphin\u201d<\/span><\/i> \u2013 Thalia of the Marine Mammals Research Association (DMAD) shared a convincing change of mindset story she had experienced). Claudia\u2019s talk linked very much with what had been talked about before – us being currently overloaded and in need of connection and communication. \u201c99% of a good conversation means listening.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The practical side of this happened in the \u201cMagic Round Table\u201d – the first one in the region. There was a call to <\/span>\u201chumanise tourism in Montenegro\u201d<\/span><\/i>; the key topics were about human resources and how to start building a joint vision and work \u201cbottom up\u201d in our mentally divided country – a phenomenon of many other countries coming through multiple crises. The idea was born to have in each community a team and to start new connections with the help of digital tools that are available today to everyone.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy Smith<\/span><\/a> (Tourism Declares Climate Emergency \/ The Glasgow Declaration, The Travel Foundation) joined us to talk about that other big C, climate, in the wake of his visit to COP27 where tourism featured more but now real implementation is tough, and let us know what is required: Commitment, Collaboration, Capacity and Context.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no point in competing on climate,\u201d<\/span><\/i> he said, as this existential crisis bigger than all of us pulls us together to tackle the shared goal \u2013 the same can be said of responsible, sustainable, regenerative tourism overall too.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vicky Smith<\/span><\/a> (event Co-MC and Founder, Earth-Changers.com) introduced the new 2022 Responsible Tourism Charter. It is an update on the original Cape Town Declaration authored in 2002, upon which global responsible tourism became based, and saw South Africa institute it in government policy for the first time. You can read about the charter here: <\/span>https:\/\/www.earth-changers.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/3\/the-2022-responsible-tourism-charter<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and sign here: <\/span>https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdv_ED90KWAnyHxp1bL91htMScJ7rXhI0Tw8WHgjt7iyDsiNA\/viewform<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– those who sign will be sent priority registration for #TTTT23 where we are planning Professor Harold Goodwin, the author of both the 2002 and 2022 constitutions, to keynote.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andjela Djokic<\/span><\/a> (Digital Marketing Consultant, My Guide Network, FitCamp Montenegro) and <\/span>Jovan Radnic<\/span><\/a> (Product Marketing Manager \/ Co-founder, \u201cMontenegro Digital Nomads & Remote Workers\u201d Community) taught us in ever-evolving digitalisation how connection to the <\/span>right<\/span><\/i> customers through diversification and targeting is key. Get it right, and people pay not only to visit a donkey sanctuary, but also stay and shovel sh*t!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This behaviour really shifting to the socially and environmentally conscious was echoed by <\/span>Tadej Rogelja<\/span><\/a> (Faculty of Tourism Studies Turistica Portoro\u017e, University of Primorska \u2013 Slovenia), such as Locals from Zero\u2019s young talents database and cooperation with <\/span>fairbnb<\/span><\/a>. His examples of rural tourism and sustainable development practices, including the <\/span>\u201copen villages concept\u201d<\/span><\/i> , were highly relevant for the regeneration efforts of the region.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Milena Nikolova<\/span><\/a> (Chief Behaviour Officer\u202f& Co-founder of BehaviorSMART, Bulgaria) reminded us that small but smart changes stack up at scale; and repetition creates new patterns. Her presentation of how knowledge about human behaviour can make sustainability effortless and a non-negotiable element of good business included many practical examples. She advised us to move forward from <\/span>\u201clooking for the right travellers to making most travellers the right travellers\u201d.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, <\/span>Aleksandra Garda\u0161evi\u0107-Slavuljica<\/span><\/a>, in her role as Director General for Tourism Developing Policies of Montenegro\u00b4s current Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism \u2013 having lead the working group to develop the Strategy of Tourism Development to 2025 with Action Plan \u2013 arrived to share points from that strategy and its operational goals – based on the mission: <\/span>“Montenegro manages its destination in a sustainable way, creating a green, innovative and inclusive tourist product, based on digitalisation and innovations, influencing the increase in tourist consumption, reducing seasonality and regional disbalance, with the aim of maintaining higher living standards of the local population and tourists satisfaction increase.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The audience had many questions about the concrete ways of making this happen, partly posed on site and partly shared on a quick digital poll. Those questions will be sent to the Ministry, and published with the answers when received on the event site of <\/span>https:\/\/test.tivat.travel\/tivat-tourism-think-tank-2022\/<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last not least, we were happy to announce:\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n