On May 27, 2025, Jelena Krivčević, representative of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, was invited as a guest lecturer for a group of international students from Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), currently staying in Montenegro as part of their study visit and research on tourism development.
The lecture focused on mountain and rural tourism, with a particular emphasis on katuns – traditional seasonal settlements in Montenegro’s highlands. Students were introduced to the ways in which katuns and local communities are engaging with contemporary tourism trends, as well as the impact of tourism on people, cultural identity, and natural resources.
The interactive session opened up discussion on topics such as sustainability, adaptive reuse of traditional spaces, and the role of public and development institutions in supporting rural livelihoods.
The Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije is currently implementing several projects related to katuns, including:
- Cross-Re-Tour, through which selected katun and rural tourism households received financial support for implementing green innovations in their operations;
- MED GIAHS, an international project focused on the valorization of traditional agricultural practices through tourism, supporting Montenegro’s efforts to nominate katuns for recognition as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).
This lecture provided an excellent opportunity for international knowledge exchange and dialogue, while promoting the authentic values that katuns and rural communities in Montenegro have to offer in the context of sustainable tourism.
