Montenegro’s Road to Sustainable Tourism Growth and Innovation

Abstract

Tourism is the most important export sector in Montenegro, with a share of 22% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a strong tendency toward growth. Tourism revenues contribute substantially to both the current account balance and employment. However, the current level of the tourist sector suffers from serious limitations. The switch from the current approach to tourism in Montenegro to a more sustainable tourism is only possible by becoming more innovative.Highlighting the importance of innovation in all its forms has been the motivation for our research. The application of the organizational, marketing, and design innovations of the Montenegrin tourism industry actors was examined in a survey, based on the Community Innovation Survey (CIS), with some necessary adaptations. The sample covered more than 70% of available tourism actors. The authors also analysed the experience from Slovenia, in particular the Slovenian example of the Bank of Tourism Potentials, finding this innovation potentially suitable for transfer to Montenegro. Based on the survey and analysis, the team designed certain recommendations for policy action that can be used as guidelines for policy makers.

Determinants of the Propensity for Innovation among Entrepreneurs in the Tourism Industry

“…This is evident in the development of new services that integrate technology and sustainable initiatives [1]. Tourism has the capacity to drive forward socio-economic progress [2,3], making it fertile ground upon which to start businesses [4].…”

“…The innovative propensity of a hotel or accommodation service provider, for example, depends not only on the use of technology but also on sustainable initiatives; the latter perhaps being the reason why ecotourism is becoming increasingly popular amongst people who want to connect tourism with the environment and natural settings [1]. Achieving more sustainable tourism is only possible by being more innovative [3]. Thus, eco-innovation in tourism is a path towards sustainable technologies that ensure eco-efficiency and clean production processes [43], such as wine tourism [44,45], confirming the existence of a close relationship between sustainability and tourism, as recognised by the United Nations in its debates on this issue [46].…”

An Empirical Analysis of Relationship Between Tourism and Economic Growth: Panel Evidence From Western Balkan Countries

“…Cerović Smolović et al (2018) defined the concept of sustainable tourism development that implies a tourism sector enabling high-quality products, satisfying the needs of tourists and keeping tourism resources for future generations. Iatu (2018) emphasizes that sustainable tourism is the concept of visiting a place as a tourist and creating only a positive effect on the environment, society and economy.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Attitudes towards Growth Capacity of Tourism Firms: Evidence from Greece

“…In essence, the growth capacity of tourism firms is intricately tied to their ability to adapt to changing market dynamics, deliver exceptional experiences, and strategically position themselves within the broader tourism landscape [18]. The firms that effectively leverage these factors are more likely to achieve sustainable growth while contributing positively to the tourism industry and the economies in which they operate [13,19].…”