On May 27, 2025, Jelena Krivčević, a representative of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, served as a guest lecturer for a group of international students from Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), who are currently in Montenegro as part of a study visit and research on tourism development.

The lecture was dedicated to mountain and rural tourism, with a special focus on katuns as a specific form of seasonal life and work in mountain areas. The students were presented with how katuns and local communities are integrated into modern tourism flows, as well as the impact of tourism on people’s lives, cultural identity, and the preservation of natural resources.

In an interactive discussion, questions were raised regarding sustainability, the repurposing of traditional spaces, and the role of public and development institutions in providing support to the local population in rural areas.

The Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije is currently implementing several projects dedicated to katuns, among which the following stand out:

• Cross-Re-Tour, within which katun tourism households received funds for implementing green innovations following a public call and selection process;

• MED GIAHS, an international project focusing on the valorization of traditional agricultural practices through tourism, as part of the preparations for nominating Montenegrin katuns for the prestigious status of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

This lecture was an excellent opportunity for international exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as for promoting the authentic values that the katuns and rural communities of Montenegro offer in the context of sustainable tourism.